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SHIGENOBU II, Yanagawa
(fl. 1802s - 30s) 		Hana awase  ("An array of flowers")
No. 4: Te-ike no hana  ("Hand-picked flower")

Signed:                        Yanagawa Shigenobu
Seal:                            Yanagawa
Date:                            c. 1835
Size:                            21.3 x 19 cms  (shikishiban surimono)








SOLD
Print from a set of eight surimono designed for the poetry circle headed by Shakuyakutei Nagane (1767 - 1845), the most influential kyoka master in Edo during the 1830s. The title of each print is composed of a poetic word or expression including the word hana, "flower", a traditional metaphor for a beautiful woman.
Te-ike no hana  ("Hand-picked flower"), the title of this print, is a term used to refer to a geisha or courtesan who has become the wife or mistress of the patron who bought out her contract with a bordello, illustrating a woman tuning a samisen, with poems by Rakuyoan, Ryueishi and Buwaian Futaki.
Next to designing surimono, Yanagawa Shigenobu II is known for his book illustrations.

For another impression of this design, see:   John T. Carpenter, "Reading surimono"; Museum Rietberg, Zurich, 2008; no. 235, p. 357.

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