Sun Surf has focused on the painters of the Edo period (1603-1868), when Japanese culture and art expanded further, and reproduced the works of these masters on the canvas of the aloha shirt.
The 2024 model of the "Japanese Designs National Treasure of Japan" series, "Ima-sama miritate-sho-farmer-artist-merchant-merchant", brings back to life the passion that went into Japan's world-class designs.
This work is by Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III), an ukiyoe artist who quickly became popular for his distinctive paintings of beautiful women.
His reputation for his yakusha-e (portrayals of actors) was so high that he even surpassed his master, Utagawa Toyokuni I, in terms of reputation.
In this work, "Ima-yo-mitate Shi-no Kosho, Merchant," the artist depicts Uoei, a wholesaler of nishiki-e (brocade pictures) that operated a store on what is now Ueno-hirokoji at the end of the Edo period.
The large characters "Azuma Nishiki-e" (East Nishiki-e) are dyed on the store curtain, indicating that nishiki-e was a popular specialty of Edo (Tokyo).
A peek inside the store reveals an array of actor paintings and landscapes, and on the wall to the left is an advertisement for the Meisho Edo Hyakkei (One Hundred Famous Views of Edo).
This "Uoei" was a very popular picture book wholesaler that published many famous nishiki-e works, including those by Utagawa Hiroshige, Hiroshige II, and Toyokuni III, the author of this work.
Among the samurai, farmers, artisans, and merchants, this work is unique in that it is a glamorous work depicting only women as "merchants.
・Rayon 100%
・Made in Japan
Size(cm)
|
Back Length |
Chest |
Shoulder |
Sleeve |
| M(38) |
66.5 |
53 |
47.5 |
22 |
| L(40) |
68.5 |
55.5 |
50.5 |
22.5 |
