Original woodcut in two shades of grey and one of pink; J.A. Michener, The Hokusai Sketch-Books. Selections from the Manga, Rutland and Tokyo, 1958, pp. 216–240; Koban format; 180 × 130 mm
A fine print from the Manga collection, a fifteen-volume series published between 1814 and 1878 (the last three volumes posthumously).
The series was conceived by Hokusai to illustrate every aspect of Japan: from folklore to architecture, and from flora to fauna. The sheets in the collection served as a manual for apprentice artists, providing a wide range of ideas for tackling any kind of subject.
This sheet, printed on Japanese paper, comes from Volume IV and depicts the Wagō-jin (和合神), known as the ‘Saints of Harmony and Union’; according to Japanese folklore, they are the incarnations of the legendary monks Kanzan and Jittoku.
Their scruffy yet jovial appearance is intended to represent a wisdom that transcends social conventions, whilst the objects they hold in their hands carry strong symbolic significance: the standing figure holds a round box and the seated one holds a lotus flower. In Chinese, both terms are homophones for ‘unity’ and ‘harmony’, making the image a visual symbol of peace and cooperation. The objects scattered at their feet are also auspicious, such as the perforated coins and coral branches, which emphasise their role as deities bringing prosperity.
Good margins all round. In perfect condition.
Rif. 7444