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Subject:Re: Japanese art on paper
Posted By: Guy Mon, Aug 29, 2016
Your prints are typical examples of cheap Japanese woodblock prints (ukiyo-e), printed in vivid colors by using the first synthetic pigments, dating from the early Meiji period.
The first print depicting beauties, bears the publisher's mark イセ辰 (Isetatsu) and was issued around 1870 by the Tokyo Publisher Iseya Tatsugorô.
The original series title in the upper part at the right of the design was removed and a fake signature of the very famous ukiyo-e artist Utamaro was added lower part also right. The series was probably designed by an anonymous artist, employed by the publisher.
Clearly, it was the forger's intention to sell this (very cheap) woodblock print as a genuine Utamaro to ingnorant foreigners, strolling in the streets of old Tokyo.
The two other woodblock prints are from the series 'Genji gojûyojô' (源氏五十四帖 - Folding book of the 54 chapters of the Tale of the Genji), designed by Utagawa Yoshiiku (1833-1904), published 1870-71 by Yorozuya Magobei.
Guy.
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