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.

 

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

 

 

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.

 

Title: Men join together to form another man (Hito katamatte hito ni naru)

Publisher: Yamato-ya Kyűbei of Kawagashi

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

Title: Even though she looks old, she is really young (Toshiyori no yô na wakai hito da)

Publisher: Fujioka-ya Hikotarô

 

 

This is another edition of the above print.

 

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. 

Title: Men get together to make a textile for fun

Publisher: Yamamoto-ya Heikichi

This is another state of the above print, courtesy of Horst Graebner

 

Here are two composite portraits by the Italian (Milan) painter Giuseppe Arcimboldo (1527-1593) for comparison.  The upper one is titled ‘Spring’, and the lower one is titled ‘Winter’.

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