Toyohara Kunichika (1835-1900) Niwaka Festival in the Yoshiwara, 1884. Oban triptych.
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This is one of the best Kunichika triptychs I’ve held. The subtlety of the tones and colours, the delicacy of the drawing and composition, the depth, care, perspective and observation are all outstanding. It is a great contrast to the very bellicose prints of the decade… all Meiji purples, reds and blues. This lovely nocturne is a wonderful example of the subtlest form of woodblock printing; an indicator of some of the subtleties that Yoshitoshi and his followers would introduce a few years later.
The triptych illustrates the Niwaka Festival in the Yoshiwara, or red-light district of Edo. The two women at left are dressed in men's attire for the procession, each carrying a large red lantern with writing on it and a folding fan decorated with a blossom. The outer kimono of the woman at left features a carp leaping up a waterfall, while the beauty in the centre wears a robe with a dragon clutching a jewel on it. At right, a courtesan watches them with a displeased expression, her lips firmly set. Behind them, people wander about the street as they prepare for the celebration.
The Niwaka Festival was an extravagant event which was hosted annually in the Yoshiwara during the summer. Niwaka - meaning "spontaneous entertainment" - originated in the early 1700s as impromptu comic performances on the streets or temporary stages, often in association with a shrine festival. The lighthearted performances were first adapted by courtesans in Edo around 1730 but by the mid century the popularity of niwaka had waned. It was revived again by geisha in the 1770s as a more organised event in order to boost business. The Yoshiwara Niwaka Festival included costumed processions, parade floats and satirical plays. During the festival the strict regulations regarding access to the pleasure quarters were relaxed, allowing residents of Edo of all social positions, including women, the opportunity to visit the Yoshiwara and take in the spectacle.
This is really a lovely thing. The colours are subtle yet rich and the printing is marvellous. Unbacked. Colour, impression and condition are all fine.
70 x 35 cm.
