Sake to Me!
Who doesn't love sake?
Fermented and filtered rice wine, clear as a country creek, sake can have a subtle taste -- but don't let that fool you: sake can pack a punch.
The economic success of the Edo period not only allowed for a flourishing of the arts, but meant that sake could be an everyday treat for many people. That led to many raucous parties, I'm sure. And like all the other daily facets of life in that magical time, it found its way into Ukiyo-e.
To toast springtime, Art of Ukiyo-e is proud to introduce seven fun sake prints, depicting everyone from a brave member of the 47 Ronin having a drink before battle, to a few young ladies who may have had a cup too many, even if those cups were really little.
豐原国周Toyohara Kunichika (1835–1900)
开花人情镜 倾杯
Alcohol Lover, from the series of Modern Models of Manners
1878
木版画 | 纵绘大判 | 36cm x 25cm
Woodblock-print | Oban tate-e | 36cm x 25cm
早期版次；颜色鲜艳；品相非常好
Great impression, color and condition
《开花人情镜》，为丰原国周于1878年创作的美人锦绘系列。全套共37张，包括1张总目录与36张正幅。高产的国周在此系列中描绘了多个平凡却雅致的生活场景，展现着幕末明治期民众的种种细微情绪。虽略带颓靡之态，但画风明丽，构图简洁，是国周创作成熟期的名作之一。“谈谐终日夕，觞至辄倾杯。”倾杯，即饮酒。古往今来，无数名士豪杰皆为美酒倾倒：晋陶渊明酒兴高致，采菊东篱；初唐王绩简傲嗜酒，因能饮五斗而不醉，故自作《五斗先生传》；诗仙李白更是“天子呼来不上船”，会须一饮三百杯。作为一个同样酒文化盛行的国家，幕末明治期的日本，在空气中自上而下弥漫的，仍是一股淡淡的清酒味。时代更迭中的百姓们，最适应的还是通过饮酒一浇胸中块垒。美人一杯倾入喉，稍拭嘴边残酒，双瞳迷离，几根鬓丝垂落，玉身微仰，一副醉态初露。鲜红纯色的背景底上并无他物，足够惹眼。似乎正代表着美人睁眼瞬间，世间一片带着暖意的虚无。
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