The Property of a Gentleman
Suzuki Harunobu (1725-1770) | Poem by Fujiwara no Motozane | Edo period, 18th century
Lot Closed
December 19, 01:03 PM GMT
Estimate
4,000 - 6,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
The Property of a Gentleman
Suzuki Harunobu (1725-1770)
Poem by Fujiwara no Motozane
Edo period, 18th century
woodblock print, from an untitled series of Thirty-Six Poetic Immortals (Sanjurokkasen), signed Harunobu ga (Pictured by Harunobu), circa 1767-68; collector's seal GEM to verso
Vertical chuban: 28.8 x 21.6 cm., 11⅜ x 8½ in.
The poem by Fujiwara no Motazane (circa 860) has been translated by Jack Hillier in Suzuki Harunobu: An Exhibition of His Colour-Prints and Illustrated Books on the Occasion of the Bicentenary of his Death in 1770, (Philadelphia, 1970), no. 78:
Blossoming now in our mountain village,
the unohana flowers look like snow
still lingering on the hedge
Sakinikeri
waga yamazato no
unohana wa
kakine ni kienu
yuki to miru made
For a similar impression of the same print in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The MET), accession number JP873, go to:
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/60012827
For a further impression in the collection of the British Museum, museum number 1910,0614,0.4, go to:
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/A_1910-0614-0-4