Object data
nishikie, with metallic pigments and blindprinting
height 137 mm × width 180 mm
Ryûryûkyo Shinsai
Courtesans At Their Toilet
Japan, 1809
Provenance
…; purchased from the dealer Kunsthandel Huys den Esch, Dodewaard, by J.H.W. Goslings (1943-2011), Epse, near Deventer, 1985;1 by whom donated to the museum, 1991
Object number: RP-P-1991-561
Credit line: Gift of J.H.W. Goslings, Epse
Copyright: Public domain
Context
At the time, this series of 36 surimono, plus one, issued by the Yomogawa, was one of the largest groups of luxury surimono to be issued simultaneously. Other large series include those designed by Hokusai, entitled the Twenty-four Examples of Filial Piety, Nijushiko (24 designs, 1800), Sori's The Thirty-six Poets as Craftsmen, Shokunin sanjurokkasen (36 designs, 1802), and the untitled series depicting the stations of the Tokaido by Hokusai (54 designs, c. 1804). However, none of these feature anything comparable to the lavish printing of this series with its abundant use of metallic pigments, e.g., all the fan-shaped cartouches have a gold ground. The series was originally issued with an additional print, the Table of Contents, probably for the convenience of the buyers, which incorporated small images of all the shells in the series. The order adopted here corresponds to that indicated in Oeda Ryuho's A Series of Shells as Brocade of the Coast, Kaitsukushi ura no nishiki, of 1749. The same sequence is used again in Hokusai's series A Matching Game with the Genroku Poem Shells, Genroku kasen kaiawase, of 1821 (e.g. RP-P-1963-26). However, it is not known if this sequence was the same as that used when the prints were first issued.
Compared to the depictions of 'shell screens' for earlier Snake Years - as in RP-P-1991-611, for example - the selection of an established group of shells was a major development (see also RP-P-1991-611 for the association 'Year of the Snake-Benten-Enoshima-shells'). It must be added, though, that the concept of issuing surimono in series only developed from the early 1800s. Ten of the 36 designs are included in this collection.
For others in the series, see:
2: Wasuregai2,3
3: Umenohanagai4,5
4: Hanagai6
10: Miyakogai7
15: Nadeshikogai8,9
16: Namimakashiwa10,11
20: Suzumegai12,13,14
23: Awabi15
26: Minashigai16,17,18;19
27: Asarigai20,21
31: Ashigai22
32: Mizogai23;24.
The artist
Ryuryukyo Shinsai (n.d., but often given as 1764?-1820; the latter date is definitely incorrect as his last known designs were issued in 1825) is said to have first been follower of Tawaraya Sori, and later of Katsushika Hokusai, who gave him the art-name Shinsai in 1800. His personal name was Masayuki. He was one of the most prolific designers of surimono in the early 19th century and thoroughly explored the possibilities of issuing works in titled series.
Entry
A courtesan seated at a black-lacquered toilet case and mirror-stand arranges the collar of her under-kimono. Another courtesan with a water basin in front of her turns towards a young trainee playing with a shuttlecock. Two toothbrushes on a bowl beside the basin.
The Pure Red Shell, Masuogai (Psammotae elongate Lamarck), from the series A Matching Game of Poems, Kasen awase.
The 'Pure Red Shell' of the title may refer to the courtesan's lip rouge. However, the poem by the first poet seems to suggest another, more literal association.
The Masuogai is Number 6 in Oeda Ryuho's A Series of Shells as Brocade of the Coast, Kaitsukushi ura no nishiki, of 1749.
Three poems by Goyasudai Aritsune, Kagyotei Tetsuhito [or Tetsundo], and Yomo no Utagaki Magao [1753-1829, Shikatsube Magao, pupil of Yomo Akara. Used the name 'Yomo' from 1796, when he became a judge of the Yomogawa. Alternative name Kyokado].25
The poem by Aritsune cleverly connects the name of the shell, masuogai, and a 'mirror of ten sun in diameter', a masukagami - ten sun (30.3 cm) also pronounced masu. It reads:
The red shells are even happier this New Year when they see the Goddess of Spring in the large mirror.
Issued by the Yomogawa
Signature reading: Shinsai ga
Literature
M. Forrer, Surimono in the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, Leiden 2013, no. 154
Citation
M. Forrer, 2013, 'Ryûryûkyo Shinsai, Courtesans At Their Toilet, Japan, 1809', in Surimono from the Goslings Collection in the Rijksmuseum, online coll. cat. Amsterdam: hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.363072
(accessed 20 September 2024 23:27:16).