Meiji Artist: The Drunkard’s Progress; Magic Lantern Temperance Set (SOLD)

Artist: Meiji Artist (1847-1915)
Title: The Drunkard’s Progress; Magic Lantern Temperance Set
Date: 1888

Complete set of “The Drunkards Progress” (Sake nomi no nariyuki). Twelve chuban sheets as six uncut oban sheets. Fascinating example of Japanese print versions of magic lantern slides, which were obviously created as part of the temperance movement. Edith Payne kindly pointed out to us the source; T. H. McAllister, a leading US family of optical lantern manufacturers in New York. By 1846 they were one of the greatest US dealers in magic lanterns and slides. The originals were round, wood-framed painted or printed glass slides; we can see an original at https://www.luikerwaal.com/newframe_uk.htm?/gewoontes_uk.htm  Magic lanterns were popular until the introduction of cinema in about 1910. On the set of Japanese prints, the first “slide” is even labeled in English: “The drankard’s progress”. The scenes are all set in Europe and feature westerners. The subtitle for number one is “Picture of the man coming home and behaving himself” (Kinshin kitaku no zu). Number one reads: “A company man with a good behavior comes home at six pm after work. His wife welcomes him and comforts him for his hard work. His child yearns for him and shows him her clean copy of calligraphy. It is a harmonious family picture.” Number two is subtitled “Picture of the man who is offered a drink.” The text a left reads : “A former company man is on the way home from the office and meets a bad friend who offers to drink with him and takes him to a bar. The company man could not reject his offer and tries to drink sake which he does not like. This is the beginning of the mistake for life.” We see the drunkard continuing to “progress” until he is literally overtaken by demons in the 11th slide, and then dies by his own hand on the 12th. Sold as a complete set of six uncut ôban prints, each with two designs.

Condition: Very good impression, color and condition. Horizontal creases.
Dimensions: six uncut ôban sheets
Signature: Unsigned

SKU: KUC021S