Object data
nishikie, with metallic pigments and blindprinting
height 138 mm × width 186 mm
Hishikawa Sôri
A Painting of a Hare and a Badger
Japan, 1807
Provenance
…; purchased from the dealer C.P.J. van der Peet Japanese Prints, Amsterdam, by J.H.W. Goslings (1943-2011), Epse, near Deventer, 1984;1 by whom donated to the museum, 1991
Object number: RP-P-1991-555
Credit line: Gift of J.H.W. Goslings, Epse
Copyright: Public domain
Context
It is possible that the poet Senro Ichimaru owned the lzumiya brothel in the New Yoshiwara.
The artist
Hishikawa Sori, previously Tawaraya Soji, also used the name Hyakurin, was a pupil of Katsushika Hokusai, who received the name Sori (III) in 1798.
Entry
A framed painting of a hare and a badger, both dressed as human beings and holding oars. The character for 'rice field', ta, and a decoration of ginkgo leaves can be seen on the badger's clothing. The hare's clothes have the Mimasumon, the crest comprising three rice measures used by the Ichikawa family of kabuki actors as well as the character for 'flowers', hana.
The illustration is based on the story The Crackling Mountain, Kachikachi yama (cf. A.B. Mitford, Tales of Old Japan, 211-14), where a hare takes revenge on a badger for murdering his master's wife. Imitating the hare, the badger has built a boat, but has used clay instead of wood. Naturally, the boat dissolves soon after they cast off, whereupon the hare kills the badger with his paddle.
One poem by Senro Ichimaru.
Issued by the poet
Signature reading: Hishikawa Sori ga
Literature
M. Forrer, Surimono in the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, Leiden 2013, no. 121
Citation
M. Forrer, 2013, 'Hishikawa Sôri, A Painting of a Hare and a Badger, Japan, 1807', in Surimono from the Goslings Collection in the Rijksmuseum, online coll. cat. Amsterdam: hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.422450
(accessed 26 December 2024 18:51:16).