Page 85 - September 21 2021 Important Japanese Art Christie's NYC

PROPERTY FROM THE SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS
(LOTS 24-83)

78 UTAGAWA KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)

Prosperous catch of fish and sea
creatures in a fishing net

Woodblock print, surimono, signed Ichiyusai
Kuniyoshi ga
Obosho surimono: 14¬ x 20Ω in. (37.1 x 52.1
cm.)

$5,000-7,000

PROVENANCE:
Raymond A. Bidwell (1876-1954), Springfield,
Massachusetts

Surimono were privately published and emerged during the 18th
century in two main forms; as an announcement of a special
event; and as prints individually commissioned by poetry groups
to serve as a vehicle for illustrating their poems. They share
two features which differ from the commercial single sheet
prints of the period. Their text was of equal importance to the
illustration, and because the prints were privately commissioned,
they do not have censorship seals and publisher’s marks. Surimono
reached their apogee during the first third of the 19th century.
The kakuban, or square format, became popular and many
ukiyo-e artists were commissioned to design them. Two major
groups of artists dominated production: Hokusai and his school,
specializing in still life, landscape and illustrations of Japanese
and Chinese legends; and the Utagawa school.