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「魯國皇太子御着之圖」
Prints showing current events were usually prepared ahead of time, so that they could go on sale as soon as the event occurred. Occasionally, however, this meant that a print accidentally became “fake news,” showing something that did not actually happen as planned. One famous example is this triptych: at Tokyo Station, the Meiji Emperor greets the Crown Prince of Russia (the future Czar Nicholas II), who was supposed to arrive in the capital by train after visiting other parts of Japan. Unfortunately, the Prince was the target of an assassination attempt in Kyoto, and he returned home without ever visiting Tokyo. The thrifty publisher recycled the printing blocks a few years later, with changes, to show the visit of Prince Ferdinand of Spain.
Illustration of the Arrival Ceremony to Welcome the Russian Crown Prince (Rokoku kôtaishi gochaku no zu)
「魯國皇太子御着之圖」
Japanese
Meiji era
1891 (Meiji 24), May
Medium/Technique
Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
Dimensions
Vertical ôban triptych; 35.5 x 70 cm (14 x 27 9/16 in.)
Credit Line
Jean S. and Frederic A. Sharf Collection
Accession Number2000.518a-c
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAsia, Prints and Drawings
ClassificationsPrints
Prints showing current events were usually prepared ahead of time, so that they could go on sale as soon as the event occurred. Occasionally, however, this meant that a print accidentally became “fake news,” showing something that did not actually happen as planned. One famous example is this triptych: at Tokyo Station, the Meiji Emperor greets the Crown Prince of Russia (the future Czar Nicholas II), who was supposed to arrive in the capital by train after visiting other parts of Japan. Unfortunately, the Prince was the target of an assassination attempt in Kyoto, and he returned home without ever visiting Tokyo. The thrifty publisher recycled the printing blocks a few years later, with changes, to show the visit of Prince Ferdinand of Spain.
Catalogue Raisonné
Sharf, Imaging Meiji (1997), #32, no photo; Meech-Pekarik, The World of the Meiji Print (1986), color pl. 31; Genshoku ukiyo-e dai hyakka jiten 2 (1982), #156; Tanba, Nishiki-e ni miru Meiji tennô to Meiji jidai (1966), #74
DescriptionThe event never actually occurred, because of an assassination attempt on the Russian prince before he arrived in Tokyo.
The blocks were recycled with alterations in 1893 to show the visit of Prince Ferdinand of Spain; see Konishi, Nishiki-e Bakumatsu Meiji no rekishi 11 (1977), pp. 8-9, and Asai, Kinsei nishiki-e sesôshi 7 (1936), pp. 22-3.
The blocks were recycled with alterations in 1893 to show the visit of Prince Ferdinand of Spain; see Konishi, Nishiki-e Bakumatsu Meiji no rekishi 11 (1977), pp. 8-9, and Asai, Kinsei nishiki-e sesôshi 7 (1936), pp. 22-3.
Signed
Godaime Kunimasa hitsu
五代目国政筆
五代目国政筆
ProvenanceVarious dealers: primarily in London and Tokyo. Purchased between 1985-1999.