Sekino Jun'ichirō (関野準一郎) (artist 1914 – 1988)
Courtesan Procession (花魁道中 Hana oiran dôchû ), from the series Folk Customs of Japan (日本民俗図譜 Nihon minzoku zufu)
03/1946
10.75";8" x 14.25";12.5" Japanese woodblock print with hand coloring
signed 凖 (Jun in Japanese in block), Z. Sekino (in romanization, in block)
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Portland Art Museum This print is from a series which comprised 12 prints designed by 10 prominent sosaku hanga artists. In addition to Sekino, the other contributors included Azechi Umetaro (1926-1989), Kawanishi Hide, Kuroki Sadao (1908-1984), Maeda Masao (1904-1974), Maekawa Senpan (1888-1960), Mori Doshun (1909-1985), Saito Kiyoshi (1907-1997), Wakayama Yasoji (1903-1983), Yamaguchi Gen (1896-1976).
A hand-colored proof and a print signed in Japanese "Jun," and in English "Z. Sekno," the bangasa (complimentary rental or loan umbrella) emblazoned with the yago (house name), Kadoebi, color notations at the upper right margin on the hand-colored proof, koi ai (dark indigo), usu usu ai (light light indigo), momo (peach), usu usu sumi (light light ink), ki (yellow), the hem of the cortesan's kimono includes the notation shiro (white) which is applied in the final version of March 1946.
References:
- Lawrence Smith, Japanese Print Since 1900, 1983, p. 24, no. 89
- Museum of fine Arts, Boston (mfa.org), accession no. 65.1070
- Portland Art Museum (portlandartmuseum.org), accession no. 1996.31.1a-1 (complete series)