Details
KITAGAWA UTAMARO (1754-1806)
Parody of the killing of the Nue (Nue taiji)
From the series Picture Siblings (E-kyodai)
Woodblock print
Signed Utamaro hitsu
Published by Omiya Gonkuro, circa 1798
Vertical oban: 38.7 x 25.7 cm. (1514 x 1018 in.)
Provenance
Wakai Kenzaburo (1834-1908), collector's seal Wakai oyaji
Special notice
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Lot Essay

A humorous parody of the famous killing of the chimeric monster Nue by Minamoto no Yorimasa (1106-1180). The warrior’s heroic exploit is juxtaposed with a quotidian interior scene of a young boy capturing a rat with a box on a lacquer tray with bait. A courtesan holds up a light beside the boy echoing the composition of the cartouche.

The same print is in the collection of the Musem of Fine Arts, Boston, accession no. 18.300, go to:
https://collections.mfa.org/objects/230690/parody-of-the-killing-of-the-nue-from-the-series-picture-si
Post Lot Text
This lot has been imported from outside the EU for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime. Import VAT is payable (at 5%) on the hammer price. VAT at 20% will be added to the buyer’s premium but will not be shown separately on the invoice. Please see Conditions of Sale for further information.

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