The Giant Octopus and Others
Painting
1830-1844 (made)
1830-1844 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This sheet is a finished design for a print. It is full of images of monsters depicted from two sides. In this sheet, for example, the two figures in the top right of the sheet are two sides of the same monster, in this case the Giant Octopus. Both figures have the same outline, but in reverse. People would cut out the figures, glue them back-to-back and play with them. For this reason, prints of this type are extremely rare.
Sadahide's images are full of humour. The word for 'monster' in Japanese means literally 'things that change' (bakemono): the theme is perfectly suited to the format.
Sadahide's images are full of humour. The word for 'monster' in Japanese means literally 'things that change' (bakemono): the theme is perfectly suited to the format.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Titles |
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| Materials and techniques | Ink and colour on paper |
| Brief description | Painting, 'The Giant Octopus and Others', from the series Newly Published Quick Changes: Two-faced Monsters, ink and colour on paper, by Utagawa Sadahide, Japan, 1830-1844 |
| Physical description | Painting, black and colour, design for a print. It is full of images of monsters depicted from two sides, and each pair has the same outline but in reverse. In this sheet, for example, the two figures in the top right of the sheet are two sides of the same monster, in this case the Giant Octopus and an octopus with human arms. |
| Dimensions |
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| Styles | |
| Object history | Purchased from Sotheby & Co. (Sale of the Happer Collection), accessioned in 1909. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project. Bought from sale of Happer Collection at Mssrs Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This sheet is a finished design for a print. It is full of images of monsters depicted from two sides. In this sheet, for example, the two figures in the top right of the sheet are two sides of the same monster, in this case the Giant Octopus. Both figures have the same outline, but in reverse. People would cut out the figures, glue them back-to-back and play with them. For this reason, prints of this type are extremely rare. Sadahide's images are full of humour. The word for 'monster' in Japanese means literally 'things that change' (bakemono): the theme is perfectly suited to the format. |
| Associated objects |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.2198-1909 |
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| Record created | November 9, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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