Dietary Health Rules, circa 1850

by Utagawa School (Edo era artist)

Current Status

Dietary Health Rules, circa 1850 by Utagawa School (Edo era artist)

Original Edo era Japanese Woodblock Print
Dietary Health Rules, circa 1850

Comments - This rare, fantastic woodblock print features an image of a seated man drinking a cup of sake, with a snapper set out on a blue and white platter on a tray before him next to a sake bottle in a warmer. The design illustrates the functions of the internal organs regarding eating and drinking, with an emphasis on moderation. The cutaway view features scenes of workers inside the lungs, heart, liver, pancreas, stomach, small intestines, and large intestines, demonstrating the function of these organs. At top, men with fans fill the lungs with air. The heart depicts greed, with a man looking over his account books with stacks of money on the floor around him. In the stomach, workers transport and pour buckets of food into a large tub. In the small intestines, men carry the food up a ladder and into a chute that falls into the large intestine. Notice a black line leading from the heart down to the bottom for waste to exit the body, passing two separate gatekeepers. Detailed text accompanies each scene.

This print is not signed and has no censor seals, but is by an artist of the Utagawa School. The Waseda University lists the artist as Toyokuni I, while another source credits Toyokuni III/Kunisada. A variant edition featuring the same figure wearing a black and white checked kimono, but with a different fish on a tray, no sake bottle, and differently formatted text is signed Yoshitsuna. Whoever the artist may be, this is a fascinating example of the interest making health information available to the public, along with cautionary advice about balance and moderation. This subject is extremely rare and highly collectible. A wonderfully creative image in the deluxe, large format double oban size.

Artist - Utagawa School (Edo era artist)

Image Size - 19 1/2" x 14 1/4" + margins as shown

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Horizontal and vertical folds. Slight thinning along folds, a few holes, repaired. Slight soiling, a few creases. Please see photos for details. Good overall.

Dietary Health Rules, circa 1850 by Utagawa School (Edo era artist)
Dietary Health Rules, circa 1850 by Utagawa School (Edo era artist)