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白鸚鵡
The great painter Jakuchū, known for his brilliantly colored depictions of birds and other creatures, also did a few experiments with woodblock prints made in the manner of Chinese-style stone rubbings. Rather than having a block carved in relief and then printing from it in the usual way, he used an incised block, placed damp paper on top of it and pushed the paper down into the carved areas, and then carefully applied color directly to the paper.
White Cockatoo on Swinging Perch
白鸚鵡
Itô Jakuchû (Japanese, 1716–1800)
Japanese
Edo period
1771 (Meiwa 8)
Medium/Technique
Woodblock rubbing print (taku-hon, ishizuri-e); ink and color on paper
Dimensions
Horizontal ôban; 26.9 x 33.9 cm (10 9/16 x 13 3/8 in.)
Credit Line
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston—Worcester Art Museum exchange, made possible through the Special Korean Pottery Fund, Museum purchase with funds donated by contribution, and Smithsonian Institution—Chinese Expedition, 1923–24
Accession Number54.316
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAsia, Prints and Drawings
ClassificationsPrints
The great painter Jakuchū, known for his brilliantly colored depictions of birds and other creatures, also did a few experiments with woodblock prints made in the manner of Chinese-style stone rubbings. Rather than having a block carved in relief and then printing from it in the usual way, he used an incised block, placed damp paper on top of it and pushed the paper down into the carved areas, and then carefully applied color directly to the paper.
Catalogue Raisonné
Kyoto Nat. Mus., Jakuchu! (2000), #146-6 (with black background)
DescriptionPrinted by pressing damp paper against a wooden block with intaglio carving and applying the ink and colors directly to the paper, in the ishizuri (literally "stone-rubbing") technique. The Kyoto catalogue suggests that stencils may also have been used. One of a group of six bird-and-flower prints, another of which has a seal dated 1771 (Meiwa 8).
Reproductions: 21.8213, 54.317 (both Meiji copies, with the same letterpress inscription in slightly different positions)
Reproductions: 21.8213, 54.317 (both Meiji copies, with the same letterpress inscription in slightly different positions)
Signed
(seals only)
Marks
Artist's seals: Jokin, Jakuchû Koji
Provenance1954, by exchange from Worcester Art Museum to the MFA. (Accession Date: April 8, 1954)