Page 136 - 2021 March 16th Japanese and Korean Art, Christie's New York City

Property from an Important Private Institution
(LOTS 83–108)

PROPERTY OF AN IMPORTANT PRIVATE INSTITUTION
97 KATSUSHIKA HOKUSAI 98 KATSUSHIKA HOKUSAI
(1760-1849) (1760-1849)

Hakurakuten (Bai Juyi) Abe no Nakamaro

Woodblock print, from the series Shika shashin Woodblock print, from the series Shika shashin
kyo (A true mirror of Chinese and Japanese kyo (A true mirror of Chinese and Japanese
poetry), sigend Zen Hokusai Iitsu hitsu, poetry), signed Zen Hokusai Iitsu hitsu,
published by Moriya Jihei published by Moriya Jihei
Vertical nagaban: 19æ x 8√ in. (50.2 x 22.5 Vertical nagaban: 19æ x 8æ in. (50.2 x 22.2
cm.) cm.)

$8,000-10,000 $15,000-20,000

For another impression, see Museum of Fine Arts, The nobleman Abe no Nakamaro (698-770) sits
Boston (21.6671). leaning against a balustrade on the terrace of a
Chinese palace, gazing at the moon. Four attendants
arrive with dishes of food. Aged sixteen Nakamaro
accompanied a Japanese envoy to China but was
refused permission to return home, remaining in
China for the rest of his life. He developed a succesful
career, eventually becoming a regional governor. The
scene in the print is known to relate to a poem he
wrote longing to see his home in Japan again.
The same print is in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston,
accession no. 21.6673; and the British Museum,
museum no. 1910,0418,0.190.