Kyōka surimono bon 狂歌摺物本

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Commentary by Ann Yonemura

Posted November 2014

This volume of kyōka poems is undated, but Hillier lists it among other books Hokusai produced around 1794 (Hillier 1980, p. 266). It contains two illustrations: One is signed “Sōri” and depicts three women in contemporary dress enjoying an excursion and refreshments beneath a cherry tree in full bloom. A second scene in the style of court paintings and signed “Kanko” shows a noblewoman facing a garden as she plays music on her koto and awaits the arrival of a male courtier. A “nighthawk” (or cuckoo) flying overhead alludes to the contemporary Edo “floating world” of courtesans.

Based on the figural style, especially the faces, in the second scene, Hokusai, who was interested in traditional as well as contemporary art, may have designed this illustration and signed it with a different artist’s name, due to its contrasting style. The story was originally written by a noblewoman in the eleventh century, and by Hokusai’s time, it had been published in popular abridged editions with illustrations of key scenes.

The volume in the Pulverer collection was once owned by Charles Edward Haviland (1839–1922), whose collection of Japanese prints and books was sold at Hôtel Druout, Paris, following his death. At present, this volume is considered to be the only surviving example of this title.

Selected reading:

Jack Hillier, The Art of Hokusai in Book Illustration (London: Sotheby Parke-Bernet Publications; Berkeley: University of California Press, 1980).

Kyōka surimono hon