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This charming little lady is the latest addition to my rat print collection. The print, dating from 1895, is the work of Numata Kashu (1838-1901), a pupil of Numata Gessai (1787-1864). Numata was a painter from Nagoya who, in 1888, helped in the decoration of the Japanese Imperial Palace. From the proportions of the body, this little lady appears to be rather young. Her tail, the length of which is particularly exaggerated, is sweeping around behind her as she stands before the three beans which are about to become her lunch. I discovered quickly, when I first started collecting them, that it was very difficult to find prints depicting rats, and recently it has been even more so, so coming across this one was a real treat. I have never managed to get past being overly excited when I buy a new print. Whether the design is worth hundreds of pounds or only five, I buzz for weeks following a purchase. I am completely unable to settle when a print has to be sent through the post to me, as I have no patience whatsoever and can't rest until I have my hands on it, and I actually miss them when I'm away from home. Well, as it says in my profile, I am obsessed.
2 comments:
Thank you so much for posting this, I have been trying to find information about the artist Numata Kashu because I recently purchased a book of his prints, I believe the correct term would be an e-han. It is 3 volumes and all of the images are of birds. It seems that there are Japanese Book people and Japanese Print people and the two don't always interesect...which I find a bit odd... Thanks for adding this scrap of information about an artist I am interested in.
(I don't have any rat images, but have a lovely sumi-e book with a mouse hiding behind a turnip that is one of my favorites!)
David
I have noticed that also, that people often choose between books and broadsheets rather than pursuing an interest in both.
I love both books and broadsheets, and some of my favourite designs are loose sheets that were once part of an album.
One of my favourite prints is a rat sitting eating a turnip. I am wondering if rats and mice really like them... I shall have to put that to the test.
Gina
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