Title: |
The Robber |
Artist: |
Shunmo (Japan, active, 19th c.) |
Date: |
c. 1870 |
Medium: |
Original Japanese Brush Drawing |
Note: |
This beautiful nineteenth century Japanese brush drawing
was probably designed for an illustrated book. The purpose of the Japanese
illustrated book differs significantly from that of its western counterpart.
Japanese books were usually created by a single artist. They contained
little or no text and each page was an original woodcut design based upon
a drawing. The first Japanese illustrated books appeared in the late seventeenth
century and were mainly instructional manuals to paint in the Chinese style.
By late eighteenth century, however, the Japanese illustrated book had
become a vital artform, with such great masters as Utamaro creating superb
albums of figure studies, views and natural history subjects. Each great
master artist contributed to the genre and the books became showcases for
their talents. Many of these albums were simply titled the master’s
drawing book (“Gafu”) or his picture book (“Ehon”). |
|
In 1814 the great genius, Hokusai, published his first book
of ‘Manga’. Roughly translated, manga means ‘random sketches’,
and it was mainly towards scenes from everyday life that Hokusai’s
manga books were directed. This original drawing entitled, "The Robber" was probably composed
for Shunmo’s Manga album. It shows the mark of a master in its bold
simplicity, grace and movement. |
|
Drawings made for woodcuts were on very thin mulberry paper
so that the cutter could clearly reproduce the original lines upon his
block. This is the case with the paper used by Shunmo for this drawing.
Unfortunately, once the original drawing was used by the cutter, it was
inevitably sliced to shreds. Thus very few drawings from Japan’s
nineteenth century have survived. To find an original nineteenth century
drawing containing the artist’s red seal signatures (thus signifying
that "The Robber" is a completely finished work of art) is even more rare. |
|
Finally, what is so striking about this original drawing
-- and the drawings from all Japanese masters of this time -- is the astonishing
artistry it contains. With such remarkable ease, Shunmo simply created
this scene in freehand. Not one line is out of place: the drawing is without
fault. |
Size: |
8 X 6 (Sizes in inches are approximate,
height preceding width of plate-mark or image.) |
|
Framed and Matted with 100% Archival Materials |
Condition: |
Drawn upon nineteenth century Japanese mulberry (rice) paper
and with full margins. Signed with Two red seals and titled by the artist
within the image. It is in excellent condition throughout. |
Price: |
Sold - The price is no longer available. |
Important Information: |
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