Meiji prints


  Design: Arai Kanpō (1878-1945)  
  Print title: The Soga brothers  
  Album/series title: Shōnen Rekishi (Boy’s history)  
  Size: 21.1 x 30.2 cm (ōban)  
  Original woodblock print    
  Photography: Jacques Commandeur
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Arai Kanpō Shōnen Rekishi: The Soga Brothers

Enlargement


Special effects: silver metallic pigments on the purple vest of the brother on the right and on the trousers of the brother on the left.

Published ca. 1900-1910s by Akiyama Buemon.

This print has a vertical fold in the middle, meaning that it originally was issued as part of an orihon (i.e., folding book).

The tale of the Soga Brothers refers to events that took place in Japan in the 12th century. According to the story the father of the two boys was killed when they were infants and as adults they became skilled fighters intent on avenging their father and retrieving his sword.

Artist’s name and red seal in right print area:

Character Reading Meaning Translation
       
kan beautiful  
treasure Kanpō

Series title in brown cartouche in right margin:

Character Reading Meaning Translation
       
shō east  
nen year  
reki    
shi image Boy’s history

Followed by print title:

Character Reading Meaning Translation
       
so east  
ga year  
kyō    
dai image The Soga brothers

Publisher’s address, telephone number, and firm name (from right to left) in bottom margin:

Character Reading Meaning Translation
       
east  
kyō capital  
shi city Tokyo city,
       
nichi sun  
hon origin  
hashi bridge Nihonbashi
ku district district,
       
muro greenhouse  
machi quarter Muro quarter,
       
san three  
chō house block  
me count suffix 3rd house block,
       
nine  
ban number  
chi earth, land number 9,
       
den electricity  
wa talk  
hon origin  
kyoku office  
go five  
ichi one  
yon four Telephone
yon four main office 5144
       
katsu slide  
kei think  
temple Kokkeidō


References


Provenance: Fuji Arts

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