COUPLE OF CRANES ON THE SEASHORE (Araki Kanpo)

N.1 uchiwa-e woodblock print
Year: 1897 ca.
Condition: good
Size: 24,5 x 23 cm

SOLD

Description

Elegant polychrome woodblock print of the uchiwa-e (団扇絵) type, that is intended for the decoration of a bamboo uchiwa (団扇) fan, made around 1897 by the artist Araki Kanpo (荒木寛畝) and depicting a couple of Manchurian cranes (丹頂) on the seashore.

The uchiwa fan is one of the most popular accessories of Japanese women since the 6th century and, born as an object of daily use, it soon became also a small work of art to be carried as a manifestation of the mood as well as of good taste.

The woodblock print on Japanese washi paper (和紙) is taken from what was supposed to be the catalogue of a shop, as we assume from the binding holes on the right, and despite the right signs of aging is in good general conditions.