Identificationtitle(s): the immortal rokôrokô (title on object). A parody of biographies of wise men by courtesans: a series of seven prints (series title). Keisei mitate ressenden - nanaban no uchi (series title on object). Object type: surimono object number: rp-p-1958-391. Catalog reference: forrer 415. Jap cat iii 235. Inscriptions / marks: collector's mark, verso, stamped: lugt 2228 collector's mark, passe-partout, lower left, printed: jabd. H with a rooster collector's mark, mat, bottom left, stamped: b with double mountain and circle. Description: a courtesan in a kimono decorated with a long-haired turtle (minogamous). The position of the depicted turtle makes it seem as if the courtesan is riding the beast, as rokô, a chinese immortal, used to do. Rokô is usually depicted as a young person riding a long-haired turtle. These turtles symbolize longevity, due to the belief that the animals grow a tail of seaweed when they are 10,000 years old. With one poem. Manufacture. Manufacturer: printmaker: yashima gakutei (mentioned on object), poet: saikaen chôchôshi (mentioned on object). Place of manufacture: japan. Dating: ca. 1821 - ca. 1822. Physical characteristics: color woodcut; line block in black with color blocks; metallic pigments. Material: paper technique: color woodcut. Dimensions: top: h 207 mm (shikishiban) × w 183 mm explanation a surimono is a luxurious print in which an image is combined with one or more poems. When printing a surimono, thicker paper, blind printing and metal pigments, such as copper and silver powder, were often used. The prints were often commissioned by poets and given as exclusive gifts to friends and relations. Subject: what: courtesan, hetaera. Credit line: bequest of j. A. Bierens de haan, amsterdam. Acquisition: bequest 1958. Date: ca. 1821 - ca. 1822.
Loading...
