Comment - Rare and unusual diptych format surimono featuring a delightful image of the wild boy Kintarō playfully tugging on the string of an Edo kite ("Edo-tako", "江戸凧") with a blue cross crest, held by a rabbit and bear cub dressed in kimono. Kintarō (金太郎), often translated as "Golden Boy", is a folk hero from Japanese folklore. He smiles impishly as he pulls on the cord, the string trailing across the image, both long Edo tail-ropes curling on the floor. A kite spindle is laying on the ground. Kintaro wears a striped kimono trimmed with a green dotted fabric, his hair sticking up atop his head. Nicely detailed with delicate embossing in the spool of kite string and the rabbit's fur.


Series - none (Surimono)


Artist - Unknown artist, 19th century


Signature none (Surimono)


Publisher ~


Image Size - 20.9 X 36.2 cm (8 1/4" x 14 1/4")


Condition - Surimono dyptich; nishiki-e (cloured woodblock); Meiji era reprint