JAPANESE PRINTS

A MILLION QUESTIONS

TWO MILLION MYSTERIES

 

Ukiyo-e Prints

浮世絵版画

Port Townsend, Washington

 

UTAGAWA TOYOKUNI I

豊国

うたがわとよくに

1769-1825

Subject: Ishikawa Goemon (石川五右もん) pulling a painting

of himself out of a lidded jar

Actor: Matsumoto Kōshirō V (1764-1838)

(五世)松本幸四郎

(ごせ)まつもと.こうしろう

Signed: Toyokuni ga

署名: 豊国画
しょめい: とよくにが

Date: Ca. 1815

Size: 15" x 10"

Publisher: Shimizu

清水

しみず

Condition: Good color, horizontal center fold, some soiling

mainly around the edges and small repaired wormholes.

 $520.00

SOLD!

 

Note that this print has no censor's seal.

 

     
   
     

 

 

REMEMBRANCE

OF THINGS TO COME

 

 

I purchased this print because it appealed to me on several levels: early Toyokunis can be very attractive; the colors are particularly strong; and this image is especially evocative. Why? Because in the legendary lore Ishikawa Goemon is boiled alive in the end. That is why it is so interesting that the actor portraying this character is pulling an image of Goemon out of a container which is meant to boil water. Is he prescient? It would seem so.

 

Most likely this is a scene from one of the many plays devoted to this figure. However, up to now I haven't found the exact reference.

 

 

OTHER GOEMON EXAMPLES

SHOWN ON THIS SITE

 

The images below are by Toyokuni III the pupil of Toyokuni I.

To see the full pages dedicated to them click on each of them.

 

 

 

 

 

HOME