print; mitate-e BM-1923-0716-0.17

Period:Unknown Production date:1760-1765 (c.)
Materials:paper
Technique:woodblock
Subjects:arts and sciences yatsushi
Dimensions:Height: 30.60 centimetres Width: 43 centimetres

Description:
Colour woodblock print. Japanese children learning the classical Chinese Four Accomplishments: calligraphy (top right), represented by a young woman teaching a girl how to write with a brush; painting (bottom right), represented by a boy painting a landscape while another watches; qin (a Chinese stringed instrument) (top left), represented by a young woman showing a girl how to play the Japanese koto; and chess (bottom left), represented by two boys arguing over a go board. Folding screen at top right decorated with geese descending through golden clouds; folding screen at top left decorated with a flowering plum tree. Inscribed, signed and marked.
IMG


Comments:Young children are practising the four ancient Chinese accomplishments of playing the koto, the game of go, calligraphy and painting. An unusually large and lavish three-colour print, probably close in date to the introduction of full-colour printing in 1765.(Label copy, TTC, 1998) Smith 1988This is a ‘mitate’, or travesty, of the classic Chinese four gentlemanly accomplishments of music, chess, calligraphy and painting. Music is represented by the ‘koto’ (a horizontal harp) and Chinese chess by the more popular board-game of ‘go’ (bottom left). The folding screen (top left) is decorated with plum blossom, indicating that it is early spring. The inscription suggests that the boys and girls find the accomplishments more enjoyable than the ‘flowers’ (the beautiful women instructing them). More than two colours are printed, consistent with the date attributed. The print is signed ‘Painted by Ishikawa Shuen [sic]’.