Ryūkō Fukitashi-kusa (Modish Seeds of the Sayings of the Wealthy and Arrogant)

US$2,500.00

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Ryūkō Fukitashi-kusa [Modish Seeds of the Sayings of the Wealthy and Arrogant]

Gyokusui, En [or Gyokusuien] [selections by]; [artist unidentified].

[Japan: publisher unidentified], Kōka 3 [1846].

A bizarre woodblock-printed compilation of single-frame giga (cartoons), featuring visual puns, nazonazo puzzles, and tricky wordplay often requiring knowledge of kabuki plays and historical events. Any online records of this print (which is described in the right margin as "newly published") or its editor remain undiscovered. Although there are stylistic similarities with illustrations by Nichōsai (before 1751-1802/3), the illustrations are considerably more yurui (loose) than toba-e. The term fukidashi in the title is often translated today as "speech bubbles" and is typically used to refer to the dialogue bubbles found in manga. Unlike manga, there is no overarching story tying the scenes together in this print. Rather, each square presents a joke or witty puzzle. For example, a man who works at a fisherman's shop is shown in one square slicing his kimono in three cuts (like a fish) for the summer. The figures in the print are slug-like in form, yet the last character of the title ("seeds") and the strange pod-like haircuts indicate they may be beans and/or seeds. An unrecorded Edo period giga print featuring elements of manga and surreal yuru-kyara.

One leaf, printed on one side, complete. Some wormholes, mainly to extremities, mostly repaired. Fold to centre. 35.5 x 47.4 cm

Ryūkō Fukitashi-kusa (Modish Seeds of the Sayings of the Wealthy and Arrogant)
Price: $2,500.00 (USD)