Utagawa Toyokuni I (初代歌川豊国) (artist 1769 – 02/24/1825)
The right-hand panel of a triptych of Women Masquerading as the Seven Gods of Good Fortune (Shichifukujin - 七福神)
1790s
9.5 in x 14.75 in (Overall dimensions) Japanese woodblock print
Signed: Toyokuni ga
豊国画
Publisher: Nishimuraya Yohachi
(Marks 391 - seal 23-016)
Censor's seal: kiwame
Boston Museum of Fine Arts - the whole triptych
Harvard Art Museums - this print only
Harvard Art Museums - whole triptych
New York Public Library
Honolulu Museum of Art - the full triptych The woman holding the mallet, sitting in the foreground leaning against the bales of rice is a stand-in for the god Daikokuten. The woman holding the biwa represents Benzaiten, the only female among the 7 Lucky Gods. On two of her hairpins there are miniature toriis - a wonderfully subtle little detail. She is attended by a young girl.
****
According to the Worcester Art Museum the text on this print translates as: "Benzaiten: Sounds of a lute echo through the heavens--as the kindly goddess is gently flowing sleeves reveal her form./Daikoku: This god vows to look over us now and in the the future so we may enjoy long life."
****
There is another copy of the center and right panels in the Worcester Art Museum.
****
Illustrated in in a black and white reproduction in an Album of Old Japanese Prints of the Ukiyo-ye School Reproduced from the Collection of Ken-ichi Kawaura, 1919, Yoshizawa and Company, #150. The whole triptych is shown.
Nishimuraya Yohachi (西村屋与八) (publisher)
mitate-e (見立て絵) (genre)