Harumichi no Tsuraki

This month's print, the fifth this year, and the twenty-fifth one I have made so far in this series, depicts Harumichi no Tsuraki, who was active in the early Heian era, about 1100 years ago.

Earlier this year, I was able to work on the print of Ki no Tomonori during just the 'right' season - matching the image described by the poem. This time I am a bit early, we're reading about maple leaves - and summer is only just arriving! The problem comes from the seasonal balance in the original collection of 100 poems, or should I say, lack of balance. There are far more poems about autumn than about any other time of year, and it is thus inevitable that I have to work on some of them 'out of season'.

I have been looking forward to carving this design, as Shunsho has truly given us a 'real' person this time. How did he create this character? From his imagination, or from a model? I don't know much about the working methods of artists of 1775, but I can easily imagine Shunsho sitting at his window, sketchbook ready, avidly scanning the busy Edo street. All of a sudden he jumps up, dashes out into the crowd, and chases after one of the passers-by who has caught his eye, a short, plump workman laughing his way down the street with some friends. A bit of quick bargaining takes place (probably involving an offer of a bottle or two of sake), and they all make their way into the studio for a sketching session. The workman's drab clothes are easily replaced in Shunsho's mind's eye by a courtier's fine kimono, and in a few quick minutes, our jolly friend has been captured for posterity, and he and his friends go about their business, congratulating themselves on their good fortune, picking up such fine wine, far better than that which they usually drink....

What do you think? Could it have happened like that? Of course we can never know, but there is no doubt in my mind whatsoever that when I look at this print, I am looking at the image of a real person. A man who lived centuries ago, and yet who could be my neighbour today. 216 years is nothing. A lot of things have happened since that time ... shinkansen trains, TV, skyscrapers ... but I wonder how much has really changed, and how different people really are. I suspect not much. I am sure that Shunsho and I and our fat friend could spend a wonderful afternoon together sketching, drinking and talking. I wonder what they would think of modern beer ....

I hope you enjoy this print. Next, Ariwara no Narihira Ason.

June 1991

Translation - Tom Galt 1982 Princeton University Press