Taisei Shinshafu [Comprenhensive Album of Realistic Sketches. Vol. 2]

Description:

Volume 2 (of 2) only. This attractive woodblock-printed book concerns animals (Vol. 1 illustrated the flora). Based on the original drawings by the Japanese artist Kondo Ariyoshi (active c. 1830-1880), which were later owned by Shibakawa Matauemon of Osaka, who invited a contemporary artist, Nambara Keisho (active c.1880) to prepare the art collection for reproduction and to provide supplementary images and a preface to the work. Shibakawa also invited Fujisawa Nangaku (1842-1920), a noted Confucian scholar to provide an additional preface in which he praises both the quality of the brush work and accuracy of the depictions.

Full-colour images depict the various animals, together with some outline studies in ink. The work includes images of birds, bats, turtles, crustaceans, fish and insects. Accompanying inscriptions in Japanese name the animal and indicate the date that the picture was drawn. This work is presented in a traditional form of Japanese publishing, an E-hon, using woodblock prints, stitched into folded pages.

Condition

Original paper wrappers (worn, neatly restored), printed label to upper cover. Resewn. Internally Vg.