OIRAN AND FUKUROKUJU (Katsukawa Shunsen)

N.1 ukiyo-e woodblock print
Year: 1815 ca.
Condition: good
Size: 26 x 38,5 cm

SOLD

Description

Important original woodblock print of vertical large oban (大判) format made around 1815 by the artist Katsukawa Shunsen (勝川春扇) and depicting a charming oiran (花魁) courtesan in the company of Fukurokuju (福禄寿), one of the “Seven Lucky Gods” shichifukujin (七福神).

Fukurokuju, which not infrequently as in this case was depicted by the ukiyo-e (浮世絵) artists in the company of women of pleasure, is the divinity responsible for the three fundamental auspicious symbols of the Far Eastern tradition, which in fact also compose his name: happiness (福), prosperity (禄) and longevity (寿).

The precious print on Japanese washi paper (和紙), produced by the publisher Izumiya Ichibei (和泉屋市兵衛), owner of Kansendo (甘泉堂), despite the right signs of aging including small wormholes, is in overall good condition.