Humorous Short Poems with Pictures

(Kyoka-e)

Publisher: Jôshû-ya Kinzô

1839-1842

 

Kyoka poems are short humorous poems that are often satirical, bawdy or just silly. This series is not listed in Kuniyoshi by Basil William Robinson (Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1961).  The series was published in at least two states—one with the poems and a later printing without.  The images are each about 4.7 by 5 inches (12 by 12.5 centimeters), and six images were printed on a sheet of paper about 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size known as ôban

 

 

 

 

This is the second state of the above print (without the poem).  The prints below are all from the second state.

 

 

A kappa (river sprite) trying to pull man into the water

 

Raikô and the severed head of Shunte-dôji

 

 

 

An uncut sheet of six prints

 

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