HATSUYUME (Unknown Artist)

N.1 ukiyo-e woodblock print
Period: late 19th century
Condition: good
Size: 22,5 x 12 cm

SOLD

Description

In Japanese culture, Hatsuyume (初夢) is the first dream one has in the new year. Traditionally, the contents of such a dream would foretell the luck of the dreamer in the coming year. It is considered good luck to dream of “ichi Fuji, ni taka” (一富士、二鷹), that is first of all Mount Fuji, secondly a hawk.

This belief, dating back to the Edo period (江戸時代) and still well known today, is illustrated here in a very pleasant composition created by an unknown artist and probably datable to around the end of the 19th century.

The print on Japanese washi paper (和紙), despite the right signs of aging, is in good condition.