I want to cancel my subscription, January 1878
Not on Viewexpand_more
From the 1870s to the 1880s, newspapers based on Western models were established in Japan, and they were of two types: “large” newspapers, which catered to intellectuals
and elites and focused on governing; and “small” newspapers, which attracted the masses. A woman hunkers on her elbows over Kanayomi shinbun; her cat perches
disinterestedly on a little chest. Founded by Kanagaki Robun (1829–1894), Kanayomi shinbun (newspaper in Kana) was a short-lived “small” newspaper that covered popular culture and sensational news. The name, Kanayomi, literally means “to read kana,” as even the Chinese characters include annotations assisting the reading.
This print belongs to a series titled A Collection of Desires, in which Yoshitoshi explored simple desires by combining themes with the personality types of beautiful women. For the woman in this print, “cancellation” has a double meaning: one regarding subscriptions, and the other about wanting to disavow a tryst with a lover that was uncovered.
Details
- Title
- I want to cancel my subscription
- Artist Life
- 1839 - 1892
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2017.106.137
- Catalogue Raisonne
- Keyes, Courage and Silence (1982), no. 370.8; Iwakiri, Yoshitoshi (2014), fig. 250, p. 282.
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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