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Paperowl - Japanese Books & Prints

Nakagawa Kiun's Kyō Warabe (京童) Guide to famous places in Kyoto, vol. 4, Meireiki 4, 明暦4 [1658] in emakimono form, colored version

Nakagawa Kiun's Kyō Warabe (京童) Guide to famous places in Kyoto, vol. 4, Meireiki 4, 明暦4 [1658] in emakimono form, colored version

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Initially thought to be a Meiji scroll is in fact the fourth volume of Kyō Warabe (京童 loosely translated as "Guide to Famous Places in Kyoto") published in Meireiki 4 (1658) made (most probably for better preserving) into an emakimono mounting. To my knowledge, there are only 2 libraries in Japan that hold the volumes (Waseda, missing the fifth volume and Ritsumeikan Univ. and in Tokyo Museum)

None of those libraries have or mention a color version. (kappazuri-e (合羽摺絵) which makes it a unique item.

A few more info on Nakagawa Kiun: Short biography

 

The scroll is 23.5 x  654 cm long, the shaft is bone. The kappazuri is handpainted with the utmost attention to details, I could see very precise edges, no bleeding which makes me believe it was done by a very skilled artist. Under 50x magnification (which is a very very fine line), the yellow and orange pigment do not cross the main black lines of the woodblock.

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