A Hundred Twitterings

This book is an anthology of kyōka poems, or comic verses, with six color images. Kyōka were written by professional and amateur poets who often belonged to poetry clubs. The artists Shoho and Kaho Sambei (Ooka Unpo) illustrated one image each, while Tsutsumi Torin and Kubo Shunman created (2) images apiece for this publication. A few images have areas of embossing (karazuri and kimedashi), especially for textiles. Embossing (karazuri and kimedashi) is one of the techniques that sets woodblock printmaking apart from many other types of printmaking. A common technique during the Edo period (1603-1868), embossing came into its own in the genre known as surimono–some publishers produced fine printed books in small editions for affinity groups such as poetry circles and private patrons. The cost of materials and labor was higher for these books. Among them were volumes of kyōka. Because the print runs for these volumes for limited circulation was small, only single volumes of each title survive today.

Provenance

Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.

Lionel Katzoff, Baltimore, MD [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 2023, by bequest.