Utagawa KUNIYOSHI ( 1797-1861 )

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A triptych showing the old hag of Hitotsuya in the dilapidated house on Adachi Moor. The morbid story tells of a woman who developed cannibalistic habits for the lord of the district who required the blood of babies or young women. The hag menacies a young girl while Kannon ( to the right ), the goddess of compassion, looks on. In fact these are life-like dolls ( iki-ningyo ). There were popular exhibitions of these dolls during the mid 1850s to the late 1860s. Leading exponents being Yasumoto Kamehachi and Matsumoto Kisaburo. The latter had an exhibition in Asakusa Okuyama in 1855 and this might have been one of the exhibits. Kuniyoshi designed a number of diptychs and triptychs showing various exhibits of these dolls including others on this subject. Published 2/1855 by Yamaguchiya Tobei.

Very good impression, colour and condition. Signed Ichiyusai and Cho-o-ro Kuniyoshi ga.

Status: Sold