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Kintoki and Yamauba
Kintoki and Yamauba
Public domain: Image courtesy of the Worcester Art Museum.

Kintoki and Yamauba

Artist (Japanese, 1839–1892)
Date2nd month, 1873
Mediumwoodblock print; ink and color on paper
Dimensions36.8 x 25.2 cm (sheet)
ClassificationsPrints
Credit LineMrs. Kingsmill Marrs Collection
Object number1925.779
DescriptionOstensibly showing the mythical wild woman Yamauba and her son Kintoki, this image is influenced by Western models of the Madonna and Child. Yoshitoshi’s teacher Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861) collected copperplate prints that likely aided Yoshitoshi in acquiring Western-style techniques of shading, methods of depicting folds, and vanishing-point perspective. Nonetheless, this work belongs firmly within the Japanese pictorial tradition. Yamauba has unkempt hair and long, pointed toenails, and Kintoki’s red skin follows the convention for indicating supernatural strength in pictorial and theatrical traditions.
Label TextOstensibly showing the mythical wild woman Yamauba and her son Kintoki, this image is influenced by Western models of the Madonna and Child. Yoshitoshi’s teacher Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861) collected copperplate prints that likely aided Yoshitoshi in acquiring Western-style techniques of shading, methods of depicting folds, and vanishing-point perspective. Nonetheless, this work belongs firmly within the Japanese pictorial tradition. Yamauba has unkempt hair and long, pointed toenails, and Kintoki’s red skin follows the convention for indicating supernatural strength in pictorial and theatrical traditions.ProvenanceMrs. Kingsmill Marrs
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