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Shingaku Shusse …

Utagawa Kunisada

Artwork Details

Shingaku Shusse …
mid 19th century
Utagawa Kunisada
color woodblock print on paper, illustrated book
6 7/8 x 4 5/8 x 3/8 in. (17.46 x 11.75 x 0.95 cm)
Gift of Cornelius C. Vermeule
1954/1.74

Description

Subject Matter:

Similar to (1954/1.72) and (1954/1.73), this work is also a novel of stories created by Utagawa Kunisada. 
Copied from (1954/1.72)
They are part of a genre known as kana zôshi (which might be loosely rendered as "paperback novels in the ABCs"). Many of these were novels of enormous length, published in a series over the course of a decade or more. The language, themes, and low price made kana zôshi accessible to a very wide audience in Edo-period Japan. Women, in particular, were eager consumers of serial novels. Tales have been handed down about samurai women of the highest classes neglecting their wifely duties to curl up with a good book.

Copied from (1954/1.73)
Utagawa Kunisada had first appeared in the world of Edo print-making in 1807 as a book illustrator, and books remained an important part of his output throughout his career.

Physical Description:

This small book has a blue cover with writing on its left side, presumably the title. The pages of the book include monochrome prints of people as well as pages of dense writing. 

Usage Rights:

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