Namazu-e (鯰絵) Keisei Adana no Taki (傾城あだなの焚)
Collection:CSM Museum & Study Collection
Date: 1855
Medium: O-ban Nishiki-e (大判錦絵, large-format coloured print)
Object number: O.11.20
DescriptionThe ghost of the courtesan appears from a report on the fires in the Yoshiwara (吉原) pleasure quarter to admonish the catfish dressed as a playboy.
Namazu-e (鯰絵, catfish pictures) are published during the Edo period. They were published in large numbers following the Ansei earthquake (安政の大地震) of 2 October 1855, based on the folk belief that an earthquake was caused by a large catfish active underground. At the time, the publication had to undergo prior censorship before being published. However, in order to quickly release namazu-e to the market in a more timely manner taking an advantage of the chaos after the earthquake, people published them anonymously and illegally without passing through the censors. As a result, in many cases, such as this print, the painter and other details of the catfish paintings are unknown.
Namazu-e (鯰絵, catfish pictures) are published during the Edo period. They were published in large numbers following the Ansei earthquake (安政の大地震) of 2 October 1855, based on the folk belief that an earthquake was caused by a large catfish active underground. At the time, the publication had to undergo prior censorship before being published. However, in order to quickly release namazu-e to the market in a more timely manner taking an advantage of the chaos after the earthquake, people published them anonymously and illegally without passing through the censors. As a result, in many cases, such as this print, the painter and other details of the catfish paintings are unknown.