Katsushika Hokusai

1760-1849

Firewood Gatherers Returning From Their Work

signed Katsushika Hokusai at right, ca.1814-17

oban yoko-e 10 1/2 by 15 1/4 in., 26.6 by 38.7 cm

This design was adapted from a long-format surimono by Hokusai dating to circa 1800-1810s. In the 1810s there was a vogue for horizontal oban series typically embellished with a stylized cloud at the top of the composition (usually printed in rose or red) which mimicked the experience of viewing a horizontal handscroll. The horizontal compositions were likely inspired by refined long-format surimono (privately published prints) that were exchanged by sophisticated Edoites which compositionally alllude to lavish handscrolls. After a surimono was produced and distributed by the poetry club or individual who commissioned the run, the original blocks could be discretely adapted for a simplified commercial edition in the standard oban size simply by cropping a portion of the design to the left or right, and adding the cloud pattern to the upper fifth of the composition.

References:
The British Museum, accession no. 1960, 0716,0.9 (surimono)
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, accession no. 21.7881 (surimono)

(inv. no. 10-5342)

price: $3,000