Ono no Tofu and the Frog

after design by Torii Kiyohiro (mentioned on object), c. 1758

Brooding about whether to give up his career as a court calligrapher, Ono no Tofu sees a frog trying to jump onto a willow branch. After many failed attempts, the frog finally succeeds. This perseverance inspires the later very famous calligrapher to never to give up. This early two-colour print in pink and green dates from just before the invention of the multi-colour print in Japan.

  • Artwork typeprint
  • Object numberRP-P-2012-28
  • Dimensionsheight 383 mm x width 172 mm
  • Physical characteristicskleurenhoutsnede

Identification

  • Title(s)

    Ono no Tofu and the Frog

  • Object type

  • Object number

    RP-P-2012-28

  • Description

    Toen zijn studie hem zwaar viel zag de jonge kalligraaf Ono no Tofu (Ono no Michikaze) bij een rivier een kikker springend naar een wilgentak, die deze na vele pogingen te pakken kreeg. De volhardendheid van de kikker inspireerde de kalligraaf tot het oppakken van zijn studie.

Creation

  • Creation

    • after design by Torii Kiyohiro (mentioned on object)
    • printmaker: anonymous
    • publisher: Marusho (mentioned on object)

  • Dating

    c. 1758

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Material and technique

  • Physical description

    kleurenhoutsnede

  • Dimensions

    height 383 mm x width 172 mm

This work is about

  • Person

  • Subject

Acquisition and rights

  • Credit line

    Purchased with the support of the F.G. Waller-Fonds

  • Acquisition

    purchase 2012

  • Copyright

    Public domain

Persistent URL

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