Comment - Attractive portrait of a beauty from Ôhara balancing a load of firewood atop her head. A miniature Yakko ("yakko dako", "奴凧") or man kite has landed on the bundle. A Yakko is a footman or low-ranking servant. The Yakko kite has become entangled in the brush of the firewood bundle, carried on the girls head. She reaches up to free the kite with one hand, a slightly puzzled expression on her face. A charming surimono design with a subtle color palette. The poem of the surimono reflects the delicate and frail beauty of the Ôhara Girl:

Hatsugasumi tateba surarito yanagigoshi shinayoki huri no Oharame

In the early morning mist There she stood as slender with willow like hips this slim good looking Girl of Ohara

More about Surimono print in general, in the addenda section (cp. the lossary). This surimono as an outstanding example of Japanese Fine Art, is even to be found on a stamp (cp. Hungary, 1971, Michel-Cat. 2679A). You may refer to my book on "Kite Stamps of the World".

Series - ~


Artist - see Biography


Signature -  lower left, "HOKUSAI ga" ("北斎画", "drawn by HOKUSAI")


Publisher - Reprint


Image Size -  24.1  x  21.0 cm    (9 1/2" x 8 1/4")


Condition - Woodblock print (surimono); ink and color on paper, single sheet;e 1890s, publishers reprinted some of the most popular designs by famous artists like Hokkei, Gakutei, Hokusai and others. In keeping with the surimono tradition, the Meiji printings were equally exquisite, printed with the finest inks and embellished with embossing, lacquered pigments, and other design features. In some cases, the original Edo era prints no longer exist, making the Meiji reprints the only record of these subjects.


Series - ~


Artist - see Biography


Signature -  lower left, "HOKUSAI ga" ("北斎画", "drawn by HOKUSAI")


Publisher - Reprint


Image Size -  24.1  x  21.0 cm    (9 1/2" x 8 1/4")


Condition - Woodblock print (surimono); ink and color on paper, single sheet;