A Gathering of ‘Children of Edo’ out Watching Fireflies
Title | Ichikawa Danjūrō VII Ichikawa Danjūrō 市川團十郎 |
Series title | A Gathering of ‘Children of Edo’ out Watching Fireflies 蛍狩江戸ッ子揃 |
Artist | Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) 歌川国貞 (三代目豊国) (1786–1865) |
Date | c. 1820s |
Publisher | Yamaguchiya Tōbei (Kinkōdō) 山口屋藤兵衛 (錦耕堂) |
City | Edo |
Signature | Gototei Kunisada ga 五渡亭国貞画 |
Censorship seal(s) | kiwame 極 |
Publisher’s seal(s) | To ト |
Technique & material | Woodblock print; full colour print; pigment on paper |
Format | ōban |
Width | 26 cm |
Height | 38.3 cm |
Object number | SH2018-DM-039 |
Credit Line | Gift of Muck and Mieke Douma |
Provenance | Gifted to the Japan Museum SieboldHuis in April 2018 by Muck and Mieke Douma |
This series depicts actors on an outing to watch the fireflies at one of the many rivers in Edo. To combat the heat, they are donning light summer robes (yukata) and are equipped with uchiwa fans to cool themselves and towels (tenugui) to wipe the sweat from their necks. At least nine prints from this set are known. Edokko 江戸ッ子 (‘Child of Edo’) in the series title is what typical inhabitants of Edo liked to call themselves; an Edoite through and through, born and raised.