Object data
nishikie, with metallic pigments and blindprinting
height 134 mm × width 189 mm
Hishikawa Sôri
A Turner and His Assistant
Japan, Japan, Japan, Japan, 1802
Provenance
…; purchased from the dealer C.P.J. van der Peet Japanese Prints, Amsterdam, by J.H.W. Goslings (1943-2011), Epse, near Deventer, 1997;1 by whom donated to the museum, 1999
Object number: RP-P-1999-235
Credit line: Gift of J.H.W. Goslings, Epse
Copyright: Public domain
Context
This large series of surimono on the theme of craftsmen combined with women, representing the classical selection of the Thirty-six Poets, Sanjurokkasen, has two series-titles, both appearing as a hand-stamped seal on the prints. Most of the designs have the title Shokunin sanjurokuban RP-P-1995-279, but a few have Shokunin sanjurokkasen. Originally issued for the New Dog Year 1802, the series was reissued in a slightly different form in an album for the next year, 1803, under the title Kyoka Album - A Mirror of Craftsmen, Kyoka - Ehon shokunin kagami. It was indicated in the album that the verses were selected by Asakusaan Ichindo (Asakusaan I, a leader of the Asakusagawa [also known as Tsubogawa], 1755-1820), who also contributed the preface. It was issued by Tsutaya Jusaburo of Edo. Another single-sheet edition in the same format as the album and with the poetry in the same handwriting appears to have been issued again later (cf. RP-P-1991-642).
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 turner seated at a lathe, rokuro, making lids for bowls while his female assistant operates the tool. Finished lids and a chisel beside him on the floor.
The Turner, Hikimonoshi, from the series The Thirty-six Poets as Craftsmen, Shokunin sanjurokuban.
The dating 'Beginning of the New Dog Year', Mizunoe inu no hatsuharu, i.e., 1802, is printed at left.
This design was later reprinted in the kyoka album Ehon shokunin kagami of 1803 as Plate I.
Three poems by Itaya Munenari from Shimodate in Hitachi Province, Osentei Chikamura and Kosentei Takatatsu. The two last poems allude to turnery work, hikimono saiku.
Issued by the Asakusagawa (also known as Tsubogawa)
Signature reading: Sori ga
Literature
M. Forrer, Surimono in the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, Leiden 2013, no. 116
Citation
M. Forrer, 2013, 'Hishikawa Sôri, A Turner and His Assistant, Japan, 1802', in Surimono from the Goslings Collection in the Rijksmuseum, online coll. cat. Amsterdam: hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.359191
(accessed 24 November 2024 00:29:09).