Usokai (Bullfinch Exchange), from the series Kogentei jūhachiban tsuzuki (Eighteen illustrations for A Ladder to the Ancient Language)

Usokai (Bullfinch Exchange), from the series Kogentei jūhachiban tsuzuki (Eighteen illustrations for A Ladder to the Ancient Language)

Totoya Hokkei (Japanese, 1780-1850)

probably 1831, year of the rabbit

Japan: Edo period (1615-1868)

color woodblock print with metallic pigments on paper; shikishiban surimono

Graybill 2011, cat. 84

image: 7 7/8 in x 7 1/4 in; sheet: 8 in x 7 1/4 in

series title: 卍 / 古言隊 // 十八番続, printed in red ink, upper left Transliteration (Translation): Manji // Kogentei // jūhachiban tsuzuki ([symbol of the Manji poetry circle] Eighteen illustrations for a ladder to the ancient languages) Language: Japanese

title: うそかひ // 鷽替, printed in black intaglio and relief within rectangular cartouche with red border, upper right Transliteration (Translation): usokai // usokai (bullfinch exchange) Language: Japanese

inscription: , printed in black ink, upper left Transliteration (Translation): Shinratei // Mitsu no asa // hatsu uguisu no tsugenu ne mo // madaki ni Myōgi // mōde ni zo kiku (The song of the warbler on the “three mornings” of spring can be heard at the crack of dawn on the way to Myōgi Shrine [by] Shinratei) Language: Japanese Description: Poem by Shinratei. Translation from Graybill 2011.

inscription: , printed in black ink, upper middle Transliteration (Translation): Shinshūtei Shigekado // Toso no ka ni hana o // taguete // uguisu mo // sasoi koyokashi // haru no hatsukaze (Along with the fragrance of New Year’s spiced sake and that of blossoms, the spring’s first breeze summons the warbler’s song [by] Shinshūtei Shigekado) Language: Japanese Description: Poem by Shinshūtei Shigekado. Translation from Graybill 2011.

collector's mark: 玉屑武人, printed in red relief within rectangular cartouche, bottom left Transliteration (Translation): Gyokusetsu Bujin (Warrior of Poetry) Language: Japanese

signature: 北渓, printed in black ink, lower left Transliteration: Hokkei Language: Japanese

inscription: , printed in black ink, upper right Transliteration (Translation): Oka Morioka // Shinshōtei Minoti // Usokaete // makoto Amamitsu kamigaki ni // wakite zo // kiyoki Kameido no ume (Lies turn into truth in the sacred precincts of Amamitsu Shrine, where clear water wells up amid the plums of Kameido [by] Shinshōtei Minori, Morioka of Oku) Language: Japanese Description: Poem by Shinshōtei Minori. Translation from Graybill 2011.

The Mary Andrews Ladd Collection

32.673

public domain

Edo

Japanese woodblock prints

relief printing

relief prints

surimono

The Mary Andrews Ladd Collection

woodcuts