Page 96 - Christies Japanese and Korean Art Sept 22 2020 NYC

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SUZUKI HARUNOBU (1725-1770)
Courtesan riding an ox: parody of Botange Shohaku
Woodblock print, signed Harunobu ga, published circa 1769-70,
framed and glazed
Hashira-e: 27Ω x 4√ in. (69.9 x 12.4 cm.)
$2,000-3,000

A courtesan wearing an uchikake patterned with maple leaves
sits on an ox holding a tobacco pipe. There is a peony spray
attached to the ox's horn.
This print alludes to the poet Botange Shohaku (1443-1527)
who lived a life of leisure, devoting his time to poetry,
incense, flowers and wine. He was particularly fond of
peonies, leading to his nickname Botange ('Peony-Flower')
and it is said that he used to go out regularly on the back of
an ox. The same print is in the collection of the Museum of
Fine Arts, Boston, accession number 21.4985.

70
SUZUKI HARUNOBU (1725-1770)
Dandy (wakashu) with lantern passing a shrine gate
(Mitate arido)
Woodblock print, signed Suzuki Harunobu ga, framed and glazed
Hashira-e: 26 x 4æ in. (66 x 12.1 cm.)
$8,000-10,000

Two states are known of this design. The present lot
represents one, bearing a pale grey sky indicating dusk or
night, whereas the other state bears a dark night sky. Both are
illustrated in Jacob Pins, The Japanese Pillar Print: Hashira-e,
(London, 1982), cat. nos. 184a and 184b, p. 118.

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