PINE MUSHROOMS AND RED CLAM (Utagawa Kunimori II)

N.1 diptych of abuna-e woodblock prints
Period: 1848-54
Condition: fair
Size: 30 x 21 cm

SOLD

Description

Intriguing diptych of woodblock printed illustrations made by the artist Utagawa Kunimori II (二代目歌川国盛) and depicting two erotic metaphors: on the left, some matsutake (松茸) “pine mushrooms” and, in the foreground on the right, an akagai (赤貝) “red clam”.

The two panels are taken from the second and third volumes of the erotic book “Wakamurasaki” (和哥紫), made by the artist in the Kaei (嘉永) era, that is in a period between 1848 and 1854, in collaboration with the writer Hana Sanjin (鼻山人).

The prints on Japanese washi paper (和紙), despite the obvious signs of aging, are in fair condition.