Mouse Wedding
Painting
ca. 1812 (made)
ca. 1812 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This sheet shows the finished designs for a small printed book, the coloured panel representing the front cover. Usually aimed at children, such books were popular in Japan towards the end of the Edo period (1615-1868). In these illustrations, the artist Kuninao tells the story of a two mice in search of a bridegroom for their daughter.
Social status was an important factor in marriage during the Edo period. Among the higher social classes, prospective partners would be selected by one's parents or relatives. The wedding itself was a formal affair with strict social etiquette and gift-giving traditions to be observed. As these designs show, the situation was no different for the mice in this story!
This sheet is a copyist's drawing and would have been copied from Kuninao's original sketches. The copyist's drawing is usually destroyed when the initial printing block is carved. The survival of this sheet suggests that the designs were never realised as finished prints.
Social status was an important factor in marriage during the Edo period. Among the higher social classes, prospective partners would be selected by one's parents or relatives. The wedding itself was a formal affair with strict social etiquette and gift-giving traditions to be observed. As these designs show, the situation was no different for the mice in this story!
This sheet is a copyist's drawing and would have been copied from Kuninao's original sketches. The copyist's drawing is usually destroyed when the initial printing block is carved. The survival of this sheet suggests that the designs were never realised as finished prints.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Mouse Wedding (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Ink and colour on paper |
| Brief description | Painting, Ink and colour on paper, by Utagawa Kuninao Japan ca. 1812 |
| Dimensions |
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| Styles | |
| Object history | Purchased from Mr. Hogitaro Inada, accessioned in 1910. 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. |
| Summary | This sheet shows the finished designs for a small printed book, the coloured panel representing the front cover. Usually aimed at children, such books were popular in Japan towards the end of the Edo period (1615-1868). In these illustrations, the artist Kuninao tells the story of a two mice in search of a bridegroom for their daughter. Social status was an important factor in marriage during the Edo period. Among the higher social classes, prospective partners would be selected by one's parents or relatives. The wedding itself was a formal affair with strict social etiquette and gift-giving traditions to be observed. As these designs show, the situation was no different for the mice in this story! This sheet is a copyist's drawing and would have been copied from Kuninao's original sketches. The copyist's drawing is usually destroyed when the initial printing block is carved. The survival of this sheet suggests that the designs were never realised as finished prints. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.5095-1910 |
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| Record created | November 10, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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