Shodōgu yoriai uwasa hanashi 諸道具寄合噂はなし (A Gossip Meeting Between Various Tools), Utagawa Kuniyoshi

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Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Shodōgu yoriai uwasa hanashi 諸道具寄合噂はなし (A Gossip Meeting Between Various Tools)
Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Shodōgu yoriai uwasa hanashi 諸道具寄合噂はなし (A Gossip Meeting Between Various Tools)
Shodōgu yoriai uwasa hanashi 諸道具寄合噂はなし (A Gossip Meeting Between Various Tools)
1847–1850, Edo period (1600–1868)
1797–1861
Shodōgu yoriai uwasa hanashi 諸道具寄合噂はなし (A Gossip Meeting Between Various Tools), 1847–1850, Edo period (1600–1868)
Where object was made: Japan
Material/technique: color woodcut
Dimensions:
Sheet/Paper Dimensions (Height x Width): 368.3 x 250.8 mm
Sheet/Paper Dimensions (Height x Width): 14 1/2 x 9 7/8 in
Mat Dimensions (Height x Width): 19 x 14 in
Credit line: Gift of H. Lee Turner
Accession number: 1968.0001.053
Not on display
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Archive Label date unknown: In Kuniyoshi's print depicting one sort of transformation, objects used by humans become animated and talk to the viewer. It has long been believed in Japan that when things become old, they become enspirited, and many pictures on the theme of "One Hundred Demons" have included monsters which were originally objects. Kuniyoshi's things are not malicious; they simply reveal to humans that they have their own ideas about themselves: "The door says, "You get late and I get the beatings"./The buckets at the well say, "Our marriage is not stable"/ The metal heel of the zori says, "I wish I could face the world!"/The bran-washing bag says, "Don't use me for your bottom and heels."/ The chapped-hand medicine says, "Maid, your salary is too low."/The sake cup says, "I take care of both love and loss.