Kwast: vrouwe Wei
ca. 1827
Medium
nishikie, with metallic pigments and blindprinting
Dimensions
184; 206
About this artwork
kleurenhoutsnede; blinddruk; lijnblok in zwart met kleurblokken; metaalpigmenten
Art Historical Context
**Kwast: vrouwe Wei** is a exquisite nishikie woodblock by Yashima Gaki, a master of late Edo-period ukiyo-e, created around 1827. Measuring just 206 × 184 mm, this intimate work exemplifies the "brocade picture" stylevibrant, multicolored prints that mimicked luxurious textiles through intricate woodblock printing. Gakutei, active in Osaka and Kyoto, was renowned for surimono, privately commissioned prints often featuring elegant women, poetry, and refined motifs from the "floating world" of everyday pleasures. The print's technical brilliance shines in its use of metallic pigments—likely go...
About the Artist
Yashima Gakutei · 1786–1868
Yashima Gakutei (c. 1786–1868), born in Osaka as the illegitimate son of a Tokugawa shogunate samurai named Hirata, adopted the name from his mother's subsequent marriage into the Yashima clan. Little is documented about his early years beyond these familial ties, but he pursued artistic training under the esteemed ukiyo-e masters Totoya Hokkei and Katsushika Hokusai, absorbing their precision in ...