Comment -The Entangled Kite String - A
beautiful KIYONAGA design depicting a young woman, sometimes
described as the "The Townsman's Wife," walking on a windy
day. She is accompanied by a young maid carrying an umbrella.
A little boy has caught the maid's foot with his kite string
and appears afraid that the kite string might break, hurrying
to catch up with her. A charming design from KIYONAGA's
"Customs of the East" series, which focuses on scenes of women
and children in daily life.
Square shaped kites ar usually flown "on tip". The kite on the
floor is unusually to be flown "on base". The only Japanese
kite flown this way, is a "Sh¨ji" ("ÕÏ×Ó") from Kakegawa in
Shizuoka Province. "Sh¨ji" is the descriptor for paper sliding
doors.
Because of colouring, details and size, the above woodblock is
recut (please compare the different versions; see above)
Artist - see
Biography
Signature - center, right; KIYONAGA nearly always
used to sign as "KIYONAGA ga" ("ÇåéL»", "drawn by KIYONAGA");
Publisher - Reprint from 1950's; Adachi Publisher's
(seal)
Image Size - 26.0 x 39.4 cm (10 1/4" x 15
1/2") overall
Condition - single sheet; nishiki-e (cloured
woodblock); Vertical ôban (ôban tate-e);