'Thirty-six Outstanding Poems'

Category

Library Item

Item no

335

Title

'Thirty-six Outstanding Poems' ('Mitate sanju rokkusen')

Description

The actor Ichikawa Kodanji II in the role of Munekiyo. Munekiyo is shown coming to the aid of Tokiwa Gozen who shelters her children from the cold. Tokiwa Gozen was the mother of the great samurai general Minamoto no Yoshitsune. The print makes numerous puns on the word 'matsu' meaning pine, and combines poetical and theatrical references.

Artist / maker

Kunisada I (Toyokuni III)

Date

1856

Size

35 x 22.5 cm.

Type

Wood cut

Location

Art and Design Library

COLLABORATIVE PRINT:
The following information appears on the print:

Signed: Ichiyosai Toyokuni ga (lower drawing)
Gengyo Miyagi ga (upper still life)

Artists: Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) and Gengyo Miyagi (1817 - 1880)
Censor's seals:

This print is from the series: 'The Thirty-six Outstanding Poems' ('Mitate Sanju Rokku-sen'). A snowy landsacape is depicted in the upper quarter of the print.

This is one of a set of 50 prints donated to Edinburgh City Libraries by Marie Ferguson Dyer in honour of her father Henry Dyer. Dyer was a Scottish engineer who became the first Principal of the Imperial College of Engineering in Tokyo in 1872.

Exhibitions with this item

Other views of this item

Related images

Read how our collections have inspired people taking part in events, visits and community groups. Use the slider or navigation arrows to see more responses.