Not currently on display at the V&A

The Young God Ebisu

Book
1786 (made)
Artist/Maker
Kitagawa Utamaro (designer)
Place of origin
Japan (made)

This book is a collection of kyôka (literally 'crazy verse') with illustrations by the designer Kitagawa Utamaro. Kyôka developed in Japan in the Edo period (1615-1868). Poetry circles sprang up for competition and recreation and often privately published illustrated anthologies of their finest work.

Sixty poems in celebration of the coming of spring by sixty poets are spread over five double pages in this anthology. Utamaro supplied five illustrations of New Year scenes. This illustration is the fourth, and depicts New Year street performers (dai-kagura).


Object details

Categories
Prints
Books
Object type
Book
Titles
  • The Young God Ebisu (assigned by artist)
  • Waka Ebisu (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Printed in colour, from wood blocks, on paper
Brief description
Pap, Japan, prints
Physical description
Japanese concertina binding - each bifolia adhered to next to form concertina
Dimensions
  • Length: 258mm (Note: Measured in book conservation in measuring box.)
  • Width: 193mm (Note: Measured in book conservation in measuring box.)
  • Depth: 7mm (Note: Measured in book conservation in measuring box.)
Style
Edo (Japanese Period)
Subject depicted
Street Scenes
Summary
This book is a collection of kyôka (literally 'crazy verse') with illustrations by the designer Kitagawa Utamaro. Kyôka developed in Japan in the Edo period (1615-1868). Poetry circles sprang up for competition and recreation and often privately published illustrated anthologies of their finest work.

Sixty poems in celebration of the coming of spring by sixty poets are spread over five double pages in this anthology. Utamaro supplied five illustrations of New Year scenes. This illustration is the fourth, and depicts New Year street performers (dai-kagura).
Collection
East Asia Collection
Accession number
E.2957-1925

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Record createdOctober 23, 2006
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O128724/the-young-god-ebisu-book-kitagawa-utamaro/
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