Modern Comparisons of Flowers and Birds

(Tosei kacho awase, 當盛花鳥合)

Publishers: Kawaguchi-ya Chôzô and Kawaguchi-ya Shôzô

c. 1835

This series compares beautiful women with birds and flowers, which are pictured in a rectangular inset. The insets are aizuri-e (pictures printed entirely or primarily in blue). The series is not listed in Kuniyoshi by Basil William Robinson (Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1961). Simplified, and presumably later, printings either were published by Kawaguchi-ya Shôzô or bear no publisher’s seal. The prints are each about 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size known as ôban. I am grateful to Robert Pryor for his contributions to this section.

	Description: Standing woman tying her obi patterned with birds Inset: Deutzia and cuckoo (Unohana ni tokidori, 卯の花に時鳥) Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Chôzô (seal name Kawachô, 川長)
	Another state without a publisher’s seal
	Another state of the above design published by Kawaguchi-ya Shôzô (seal name Kawashô, 川正)
	Description: Standing woman holding out a piece of cloth Inset: Peach blossoms and a long-tailed pheasant (Touka yamagara, 桃花山雀) Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Chôzô
	Another state published by Kawaguchi-ya Shôzô
	Description: Standing beauty Inset: Cherry blossoms (sakura) Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Chôzô
	A simplified state of the above design without inset or publisher’s seal
	An additional state without a publisher’s seal.
	Description: Standing beauty wringing out cloth Inset: Plum and nightingale (Ume ni uguisu, 梅に鴬) Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Chôzô
	A simplified state of the above design without inset or publisher’s seal
	Description: Beauty drying hands on towel Inset: Willow and swallows (Yanagi ni tsubame, 柳につばめ) Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Chôzô

“Robinson” indicates listing in Kuniyoshi by Basil William Robinson, 1961, Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

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