Masanobu: Flirting on a Roof (Sold)

Artist: Okumura Masanobu
Title: Flirting on a Roof
Date: ca. 1709

Katsuyama Matagoro as Yane-che Seated on a Straw Mat on the Tiled Roof of a House. Sparks are flying between these two, so their love is probably illicit. Works by this artist, especially non-erotic ones, are extremely rare and exist now mostly in museum collections. There was a pencil notation on the former backing of this work that said “...dating is by Professor Fenollosa”, so perhaps this came through Fenellosa’s orbit via a student. Masanobu was a founding father of ukiyo-e. From a folding album.

Condition: Very good impression and condition for its age. Repaired wormage and center fold.
Dimensions: ôban
Literature: See Met Museum: http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/36991

SKU: MAS007