Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III)

1. Ogura Part One (Thumbnails)
2. Ogura Part Two (Thumbnails)

For closer informations about the series and large format images of each print the following book is highly recommended:

Henk J: Herwig & Joshua S. Mostow, The Hundred Poets Compared - A print series by Kuniyoshi, Hiroshige and Kunisada, Leiden and Boston, 2007, ISBN 978 9074822 824. Each print compares one of the poems from the most-beloved collection of Japanese poetry, The One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each, with a scene from Japanese history or theatre. Begun during the repressive Tenpō Reforms, the series includes many surreptitious portraits of popular actors. Herwig and Mostow explain each episode depicted and its connection to its particular poem, providing a translation of the commentary text by Ryūkatei Tanezaku on each print and identifying actors and performances. This book will serve a valuable guide to scholars, Ukiyo-e collectors and students of Kabuki and the Hyakunin isshu theme.

The set is composed by Hiroshige, Kuniyoshi and Kunisada, whereby Kunisada designed only 14 prints. From Hiroshige are 35 prints and Kuniyoshi designed 51 prints.

The series is divided in two parts: the first half has in the upper quarter the series title and a poem, the second half has to that a fan-shaped inset with a small portrait of the poet.

You can find the text of the "hundred poems" and an English translation under:
http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/japanese/hyakunin/index.html

For this series I got lots of informations from Gloria Stella Garaventa (Specialist for Japanese Prints, Paintings & Screens.1920 Vine Street, Berkeley, CA 94709-2014, Phone/Fax (510) 526-0893, karabento@comcast.net) including the new translation of the title. Many thanks for her work and for the permission to present it to the public!

For the indroduction she writes:
"(...) the series Ogura Nazorae Hyakunin Isshu (Take-offs Based on the Ogura [Version] of the One Hundred Poets), with pictures of legendary and historical subjects inspired by verses from the poetic anthology, the prints by Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) [35 prints], Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861) [51 prints] and Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1861) [14 prints], the work published by Ibaya Sensaburō during the latter half of the 1840s.

NB: Ogura version of Hyakunin Isshu is the oldest compilation and was entitled Ogura Sansō Shikishi Waka (Poems from the Cartouches of the Ogura Mountain Villa). For translation of poems, as well as excellent discussion of the original compilation, consult Pictures of the Heart: The Hyakunin Isshu in Word and Image by Joshua S. Mostow (Hononlulu: University of Hawai’i Press, 1996)." 

Part One (Data)

Ogura Part One (Data)
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Ogura Part Two (Data)