JAPANESE ART > ABUNA-E WOODBLOCK PRINTS > THE RED-BLOSSOMED PLUM

Lot 00728
N.1 abuna-e woodblock print

Insuitei

THE RED-BLOSSOMED PLUM

Period: mid 19th century
Condition: good
Size: 20 x 14,5 cm

SOLD

Fine double-page woodblock printed illustration entitled "The Red-blossomed Plum" (紅梅) and depicting a couple of lovers intent on reading some volumes illustrated with erotic scenes. The work is taken from a shunga (春画) book published around the mid 19th century and titled "Enshoku Hanaguruma" (艶色花車), that is "The Amorous Flower Cart".

The aforementioned book was illustrated by an artist who, in the frontispiece, signs himself "Insuitei" (淫水亭), a pseudonym used in shunpon (春本) by both Ryusuitei Tanekiyo (柳水亭種清) and Koikawa Shozan (恋川笑山), two prolific authors that some scholars actually claim to be the same person.

The prints on Japanese washi paper (和紙), despite some right signs of aging, are in overall good condition.

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