Comment -The Entangled Kite String - A beautiful KIYONAGA design depicting a young woman, sometimes described as the "The Townsman's Wife," walking on a windy day. She is accompanied by a young maid carrying an umbrella. A little boy has caught the maid's foot with his kite string and appears afraid that the kite string might break, hurrying to catch up with her. A charming design from KIYONAGA's "Customs of the East" series, which focuses on scenes of women and children in daily life.

Square shaped kites ar usually flown "on tip". The kite on the floor is unusually to be flown "on base". The only Japanese kite flown this way, is a "Shōji" ("障子") from Kakegawa in Shizuoka Province. "Shōji" is the descriptor for paper sliding doors.

Please compare the different versions (see above).


Series - "Customs of the East" ("Azuma fūzoku ryaku", "東風俗略")


Artist - see Biography


Signature - center, right; KIYONAGA nearly always used to sign as "KIYONAGA ga" ("清長画", "drawn by KIYONAGA"); number of print in red ("六九" "6 - 9") upper corner left


Publisher - circular publishers seal beneath the signature (center right; not read)


Image Size - 21.0 x 27.9 cm (8 1/4" x 11") + margins as shown


Condition - single sheet; nishiki-e (cloured woodblock); Vertical ôban (ôban tate-e);