Page 306 - japanese and korean art Utterberg Collection Christie's March 22 2022

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KATSUSHIKA HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Lilies
Woodblock print, from an untitled series known as Large Flowers,
signed Saki no Hokusai Iitsu hitsu, published by Nishimuraya
Yohachi (Eijudo), circa 1833-34
Horizontal oban: 10 x 14º in. (25.4 x 36.2 cm.)
$70,000-90,000

PROVENANCE:
Henri Vever (1854-1943), Paris, sold at Sotheby's London, Highly
Important Japanese Prints, Illustrated Books and Drawings from the Henri
Vever Collection: Part I, 26 March 1974, lot 298
Huguette Berès, Paris, sold at Sotheby's Paris, Collection Huguette
Berès: estampes, dessins et liveres illustres Japonais, 27 November 2002,
lot 97

Hokusai’s intention of portraying flowers in an anthropomorphic
manner is well demonstrated in this design. He avoided using
a full front angle, in the same manner of portraying courtesans
at the time. Portrayed against a plain background, the lilies in
various blooming stages occupied the entire picture. The various
stages perhaps resemble different stages of a courtesan’s life. The
start-to-bloom lily is slightly intimidated and almost closing
herself, but the tiny open pedal tips suggest her unconceivable
curiosity; the half-bloom one, though turning to her side, is
waiting quietly for her moment; the fully bloomed lily at the
bottom glories in her beauty much like a parading geisha. The
buds, only revealing their tips, are reminiscent of maiko, or the
apprentice geisha. A group portrait of beauties in Yoshiwara is
presented here.