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「江戸 三福対左」
Courtesan of Edo, Left Sheet of a Triptych (Edo, sanpukutsui hidari)
「江戸 三福対左」
Japanese
Edo period
about 1735 (Kyôhô 20)
Medium/Technique
Woodblock print (urushi-e); ink on paper, with hand-applied color and nikawa
Dimensions
Hosoban; 32 x 15.8 cm (12 5/8 x 6 1/4 in.)
Credit Line
William S. and John T. Spaulding Collection
Accession Number21.5883
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAsia, Prints and Drawings
ClassificationsPrints
Catalogue Raisonné
Waterhouse, Images of Eighteenth-Century Japan (1975), #45 (R only, 1st state); TNM Ukiyo-e cat. 1 (1960), #s 117-9 (complete, 2nd state); Gunsaulus, AIC cat. I (1955), p. 72 (uncut, 2nd state); Ukiyo-e taisei 2 (1931), #161 (C only, 2nd state)
DescriptionIn early hosoban triptychs, "left" and "right" often (but not always) mean "proper left" and "proper right," that is, right and left respectively as seen by the viewer.
The theme of the triptych is "Courtesans of the Three Cities," with Edo represented in the right sheet, Kyoto in the center sheet, and Osaka in the left sheet. In the second edition, the heads were replaced and their position was reversed; see Waterhouse for discussion of states.
Right sheet, first state: 21.5883
Center sheet, third (?) state: 06.1109
Left sheet, first state: 21.5884
The theme of the triptych is "Courtesans of the Three Cities," with Edo represented in the right sheet, Kyoto in the center sheet, and Osaka in the left sheet. In the second edition, the heads were replaced and their position was reversed; see Waterhouse for discussion of states.
Right sheet, first state: 21.5883
Center sheet, third (?) state: 06.1109
Left sheet, first state: 21.5884
Signed
Hirose Shigenobu hitsu
広瀬重信筆
広瀬重信筆
ProvenanceFormerly in the Kobayashi collection; October 1913, purchased by William S. and John T. Spaulding from Frank Lloyd Wright; December 1, 1921, given by William S. and John T. Spaulding to the Museum.