Original Chikanobu (1838 – 1912) Japanese Woodblock Print – No. 3, Liu Heng: He Personally Tasted His Mother’s Medicine, 1890. The image size is 13 1/4″ x 8 3/4″ plus margins as shown. Condition: This print has very nice color and detail as shown. For such an old print I don’t see any flaws. There are a couple light marks on the margins. The bowls and some place on the print are almost shiny. Colors are beautiful and bright. Series; Juxtaposed Pictures of Twenty-four Paragons of Filial Piety – The story below is fascinating! Attractive scene of a beauty spooning rice from a large container into a smaller lacquer bowl in preparation for a meal. She looks up over her shoulder with a smile, her intricately patterned purple kimono trailing onto the floor around her. Another woman kneels behind her, and a low table holds a platter of fish, with a bowl of food on a tray nearby. The scene above depicts Liu Heng, the Emperor Wen of Han (Kan Butei in Japanese), who was devoted to his mother during her lengthy illness. For three years, he nursed her faithfully, even tasting her medicine to ensure that it was prepared correctly. The elderly woman is shown seated beside a window at left, as the emperor and a servant arrive with her medicine and food. A nicely detailed design, with burnishing on the black lacquer bowls and the edge of the screen. I have collected Woodblock Prints from Japan for many years and decided to downsize and sell some of my collection. I will always state whether the woodblock is an ORIGINAL or a Reprint. Don’t hesitate to ask any questions. Thank you for looking!
