Toyohara Kunichika (1835-1900)
A vivid and humorous scene in a public bath in the first year of the Meiji period: Women with and without children, a masseur and a man who got lost.
Title: Hada Kurabe no shôbu-yu (A comparison of naked bodies at the Iris bath house)
Signature: Kunichika hitsu
Publisher: Etsuka (Echizenya Kajû)
Date: 9/1868
Size: Oban triptych, ca. 35,8 x 73,5 cm
Very good impression and colours. A little later state. Not mounted, not put together. A few weak spots, restored pinholes at margin, a few minor paper faults. Throughout very good condition of this very rare bathhouse scene.
Fig. in Hashiyama, Bakumatsu Meiji Bunmei Kaika, p 167, No 470; Library of Congress, FP2-JPD, No. 1475a-f (together with a similar triptych by Yoshiiku); Tokyo National Museum C0056514-16; Ritsumeikan University Coll. No Z0173-365(1-3) (there without signature and ascribed to Yoshiiku).
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