KUNIKAZU, Kite Surimono)

"Kite Surimono"
(descriptive title)

1860

Comments - A large surimono on an o-oban sheet. An elaborate text and a closing poem (not read) fill the left sheet. The back shows an elaborate text (not read). A large Edo-kite ("Edo-tako", "江戸凧") is dominating the right print. The lower part of the Edo kite is partly covered by a wooden frame with a red sail. This is a saru (猿), literally a "monkey". A saru is a kite ferry or kite messenger, that runs on the kite line with the help of the wind. To the right is a brown basket, likely intended for the kite line, which is peeking out of it. The kite line connects to the bridle lines of the Edo kite, but the bridle lines are hard to bee seen. Two tail ropes of the Edo Kite are on the ground. The kite is adorned with foliated tree twigs, between are three white cranes to be seen.

Japanese Woodblock Surimono - Surimonos are a exclusive subcategory of Japanese wood block prints. They were privately commissioned works intended to be distributed to a small audience of friends, colleagues or like-minded members of a "poetry circle". The most common surimono style included an image and a poetry verse. Some surimono depict well-known stories from ancient legend and are fantastic individual works of art without any calligraphy. Because of the exclusive nature of surimono, and the fact that they were commissioned by wealthy individuals, the level of workmanship was excellent. The designs are stunning, and usually printed to the highest standards on expensive paper with fine pigments and embellishments. The carvers and printers were leaders in their fields. Since surimono were not sold to a commercial audience the print runs were very small and original surimono are incredibly rare in the market today.

Series - none

Artist - see Biography

Signature - Oju Kunikazu hitzu (granted and painted by Kunikazu; 應国員筆) at lower right, together with the red seal of KUNIKAZU

Publisher - no seal (Surimono)

Image Size - 37.7x 51.0 cm (14 9/16" x 20 5/64"); o-oban format (folded);

Condition - single sheet; printed on thick hosho paper; backed; usual folds of a surimono;

Utagawa KUNIKAZU

(~ 1830 ~ 1910)