Yoshu Chikanobu, 1838-1912

Preparatory Drawing with Print of 'Annual Events and Customs of the Eastern Capital: Third Month, Hina Matsuri'
(Azuma fuzoku nenju gyoji: San-gatsu)

the sumi ink on paper preparatory drawing with reddish-brown underdrawing and one small area with pasted slip of paper adjusting the positioning of her hand holding the tray and a delicate detail of a dragon in a roundel which was used for the pattern on her brocade obi; the print with beautiful carving and printing of the beauty's hair and shomenzuri (burnishing) of the lacquer accessories; signed Yoshu Chikanobu with circular Toshidama seal, and the carver's red seal Muneoka, dated in the publisher's cat-shaped seal Meiji nijusannen -gatsu -ka insatsu (printed in Meiji 23 [1890] -month -day), Donen -gatsu -ka shuppan (published in the same year -month -day), Insatsuken hakkosha Hasegawa Sonokichi, with his address in Nihonbashi-ku, ca. 1890

drawing 14 1/4 by 9 5/8 in., 36.3 by 24.5 cm
oban tate-e 14 1/2 by 9 1/2 in, 36.7 by 24

This image of a young woman holding a lacquer tray is from a relatively scarce bijin series depicting events related to monthly festivities published by Hasegawa Sonokichi in 1890. Dressed in a pale lillac robe decorated with playful array of family crests and a resplendant red brocade obi, she pauses beside a display of flowers and offerings for the Hina Matsuri (Doll's Day or Girl's Day) festival celebrated annually on the 3rd day of the 3rd month.
(inv. no. C-1784)

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