Collection of Famous Kyōka Poems Selected by Shakuyakutei - Yanagawa Shigenobu

A refined woodblock print from the Meisū kyōkashu, featuring calligraphic kyōka poems and domestic scenes by Yanagawa Shigenobu.

This woodblock print originates from the Meisū kyōkashu, a collection of kyōka poems compiled by Shakuyakutei. Yanagawa Shigenobu, a student and son-in-law of the master Katsushika Hokusai, produced these illustrations during the late Edo period. The work reflects the cultural output of the kyōka circles, where poets gathered to compose light-hearted, satirical verse.

The composition depicts an interior scene typical of the period, featuring figures engaged in literary pursuits. On the left, a seated individual occupies a room adorned with sliding screens, or fusuma, which display small painted figures. The right side presents a still life arrangement of a flowering plum branch in a vase, placed near a low writing table. The surrounding text consists of kyōka poems written in fluid Japanese calligraphy, integrating the visual and the literary.

Shigenobu employs a refined line quality, characteristic of the Ukiyo-e tradition, to define the architectural elements and the folds of the garments. The palette remains restrained, relying on soft tones to complement the paper texture rather than overwhelming the viewer with saturated colour. This print provides a glimpse into the domestic life of the literati, where art and poetry functioned as daily activities. The balance between the negative space of the paper and the density of the calligraphic columns creates a sense of order. As an example of an ehon, or illustrated book, the work demonstrates the technical precision of Japanese woodblock printing, where multiple blocks were used to register the colours and lines with accuracy. The focus on domestic quietude and intellectual engagement offers a view into the aesthetic values of the early nineteenth-century Japanese urban class.