Gather Together Pictures (yaso-e)
1847-1848
Each of these prints bears a
different title in a rectangular red cartouche.
The text above the heads is sometimes humorous with many puns (kyôbun).
These prints are each about 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a
size known as ôban.
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Title: At
first glance he looks fierce, but he is really a kind person (Mikake wa koi-i tonda iku hitoda) Publisher:
Fujioka-ya Hikotarô |
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This is a key block print for the above design. It is an impression pulled from the first
woodblock made by a carver from the artist’s original drawing. The artist would write instructions for
each color on a separate key block print, and the woodblock for each color
was cut using one of these as a guide.
Registration marks (kento)
are characteristically found on Japanese key block prints (the backwards ‘L’
in the right lower corner and the bar on the right side near the top). Kento
are cut in each woodblock, so that the paper can be properly aligned on each
woodblock during printing. In addition to being a guide for carving the color
woodblocks, the key block was also used to apply black ink (usually) in the
printing process. Note that the fabric
design is not included on the key block print and does not have a black
outline. |
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Title: Men
join together to form another man (Hito
katamatte hito ni naru) Publisher:
Yamato-ya Kyűbei of Kawagashi |
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Title: A
tricky fellow fond of mischief (Hito o
baka ni shita hito da) Publisher:
Yamato-ya Kyűbei of Kawagashi Image courtesy of Richard
A. Waldman of The Art of Japan |
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Title: He
looks young although he is made-up of the twelve signs for the years (Toshi ga yote mo wakai hito da) Publisher:
Iba-ya Sensaburô NOTE: This
print contains the twelve signs of the Buddhist zodiac. The nose is a rabbit, the mouth is a snake,
the left eye is a rat, et cetera. Image courtesy of Horst
Graebner |
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Title:
Even though she looks old, she is really young (Toshiyori no yô na wakai hito da) Publisher:
Fujioka-ya Hikotarô |
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This is another edition of
the above print. |
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Title: A
Person as a person should be (Tadajiki
nahito) This preparatory drawing
was never made into a woodblock print.
The object in the right upper corner that resembles a bell is a rear
view of a sitting man with a long unraveled loincloth. |
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Title: Men get together to make a textile for fun Publisher: Yamamoto-ya Heikichi |
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This is another state of
the above print, courtesy of Horst Graebner |
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Here are two composite
portraits by the Italian ( |
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