Kuniyoshi: Preparatory drawing for 2 chuban giga-e of catfish. The lower drawing is especially hilarious, with a farmer family during a lunch break as catfish. (Sold)

Artist: Utagawa Kuniyoshi
Title: Preparatory drawing for 2 chuban giga-e of catfish. The lower drawing is especially hilarious, with a farmer family during a lunch break as catfish.
Date: ca 1855

Preparatory drawing for 2 chuban catfish “fun” prints. In the lower one, a catfish in man’s clothes is relaxing, his tobacco pouch by his side and pipe in mouth, as his long whiskers are used a rope for bird clappers across a stream. A lady catfish (his wife!) is coming towards him with tea and presumably food in a tray on her head for lunch. The man catfish has also put down his hoe, so this must be break time. His son catfish is using his whiskers to walk a pet turtle. Above, a musician and two performers make baby catfish combine into several shapes. There are numerous areas of pentimenti. Completed giga-e prints with a catfish theme are not known, although there are series with bats, turtles, tengu and tanuki. Probably an unpublished series.

Condition: Very good condition. Attached to a stablilizing backing sheet.
Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi giga

SKU: DRW373