1753-1806
Customs of the Twelve Months with Kyoka: Tenth Month
signed Utamaro ga, and Waka publisher seal (Wakasaya Yoichi of Jakurindo), ca. 1790-91
chuban tate-e 9 5/8 by 6 3/4 in., 24.4 by 17.2 cm
From an untitled series depicting scenes from festivities throughout the year. Three men are celebrating maple-viewing season during the tenth lunar month. At center, a large man seems to have over-indulged and is rocking backwards unsteadily with one rather dirty foot lacking a shoe. A friend tries to defy gravity by reaching across his torso from under his left arm pull him upright. Another companion, carrying three swords (it is likely they felt compelled to disarm the man), holds the missing sandal dangling by its lace and reaches out with a cautionary gesture. The kyoka poem is by Tomoe no Sasamaru.
References:
Shugo Asano and Timothy Clark, The Passionate Art of Kitagawa Utamaro, 1995, text, p. 113 (on series)
Gina Collia-Suzuki, The Complete Woodblock Prints of Kitagawa Utamaro, A Descriptive Catalogue, 2009, p. 298
price: Sold