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Original Number / 原番号

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131

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Theme Identification / 画題識別

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131 Freshwater Crab Theme
131沢蟹(サワガニ)画題

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ADDITIONAL NOTES FOR THIS DESIGN

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Identification Notes:
This design is the thirty-first of thirty-six woodblock prints in Rakusan's second main sequence series, 篁子生画選, Koushisei Gasen, lit. 'Koushisei's Print Selection' (usually called here the 36 Series). Rakusan originally labeled this design number 31. However, after 1936 reprinting two series with duplicated numbering caused some confusion. To avoid further problems Rakusan decided to extend the numbering system from the preceding 100 Series into the 36 Series, and this design was relabeled as number 131, the 131st design published in his main sequence. Rakusan occasionally wrote his identification number in pencil on the reverse of the print.

Currently Documented Edition Signature and Seal Markings:

Edition I:	楽山篁子生	Raku-zan Kou-shi-sei	+ Seal B
Edition II:	楽山篁子生	Raku-zan Kou-shi-sei	+ Seal B

[For illustration of seals listed by seal code letter, see the Seals article. For edition and dating characteristics applicable to the entire series, see the Editions article.]

Print History: The woodblock print of 131 was adapted from 131-0, an actual-size original painting on silk. Because Rakusan intended to retain all of the 36 Series prototypes in his personal collection, he did not affix a signature or seal, and the silk remained loose and unmounted. The silk was originally a pale cream color, but over time it has significantly yellowed:

131-0 (original painting on silk, collection of the artist)

Edition I (1934-1941): Like most 36 Series designs 131 has the same signature and seal combination on every copy. Although all documented copies of 131 look very much alike, there are actually many small variations in color. So far it has not been possible to use these individual differences to distinguish consistent color morphs, and almost all copies are considered to represent a single version referred to the original edition I printings. The copy illustrated above is typical of edition I.

Edition II (1948-1955): The copy of 131 in Rakusan's personal 36 Series demonstration set (not illustrated) has a secondary Rakusan cursive signature. This association probably indicates that 131 has an edition II form, but the documentation is very limited. It remains unclear if this possible edition II of 131 can also be identified as a different color and technique morph. If an edition II of 131 can be confirmed, as expected for most 36 Series designs, it would only comprise a single smaller print run.

131 is one of only two designs in the 36 Series which show falling rain. (The other is the immediately following 132 which Rakusan deliberately placed next to 131.) In both designs the rain and droplets are printed in a silvery ink. In 131 this same ink is used also on the crabs where it sometimes takes on a bluish hue.

The earliest 36 Series prints were delivered tipped into recessed wells of presentation sheets embossed in their lower margins with the series title. Because all early edition I prints once had these presentation sheets, a copy which retains its presentation sheet must have been printed during the 1930s. After his supply of presentation sheets was exhausted, Rakusan distributed subsequently-reprinted copies loose. A limited number of leftover earlier-printed copies of some designs on presentation sheets were still being distributed shortly after World War II, but by then most designs were only available as loose sheets. However, absence of presentation sheets is not diagnostic of later printings because many early prints have subsequently been detached from theirs.

Theme History:
The Rakusan project which produced 篁子生画選, Koushisei Gasen, resulted in two related series of woodblock prints. Each print of the 36 Series is intimately connected to a group of prints with the same subjects in the Fan Series. Together these subject-related prints in the two series constitute a theme. Each theme typically consists of a quintet of monochrome Fan Series designs (one design in each of the five fan shapes), plus one polychrome, 36 Series design which illustrates the theme subject. The theme is labeled here by the original Rakusan number of its 36 Series design followed by the subject. 131 is the 36 Series design of the 131 Freshwater Crab theme.

The 131 Freshwater Crab theme is one of the many entirely regular themes represented by a complete fan quintet and a color woodblock print. Two of the five Fan Series designs have seal C which indicates carving dates between the last months of 1933 and the end of the first quarter of 1934. One fan design has rare minor seal Q whose carving period remains to be determined, but it is probably also early. Despite the early completion of some of its wooden blocks, Rakusan delayed printing and distribution of the prints until the following year. The 36 Series design 131 and the two remaining Fan Series designs have seal B which indicates those designs were carved later and closer to the time of publication.

The delivery documents for installment three from May 25, 1934 announced the freshwater crab designs as what would be expected to be theme 111 to appear the following month, June 1934, in installment four. However, all three of the summer season themes announced together for installment four were actually delayed and not published until installment eleven, in a slightly reordered sequence but still together in the same installment. After this rearrangement another theme became theme 111, and the freshwater crab designs ended up being published as theme 131.

The Fan Series and 36 Series woodblock prints of the 131 Freshwater Crab theme and its previously announced companion themes were ultimately distributed in early 1935 in installment eleven (of twelve), but the delivery documents for installment eleven remain to be discovered. The series as originally announced would have seen this installment published in November 1934. However, with documented delays, the earliest month it could actually have been delivered is April 1935, and it may well have been even further delayed. The delivery documents for installment 10 from March 25, 1935 announced three different themes due the following month, April 1935, in installment eleven. Evidently, Rakusan was still altering his publication plans even almost at the end of the series!

The previously mentioned delivery documents for installment three list the original Rakusan title as 若蘆にかに, waka ashi ni kani, 'Young Reeds and Crabs'. Since 131 is the only design in this theme with reeds, this title is too specific to be retained here as the theme title, although it accurately serves as the title of 36 Series design 131 alone. Despite Rakusan's use of 蟹, かに, カニ, kani, a generic name for all kinds of crabs, all of the designs in this theme include only freshwater crabs. Although a species of marine crab is also shown in two Fan Series designs of the 127 Shrimp and Clam theme, there is no evidence that any link to those designs was intended. Those marine crab designs are also significantly stylistically different from those in theme 131. However, for maximum clarity, all of the titles in the 131 Freshwater Crab theme (including the name of the theme itself) have been emended to describe the included animals as freshwater crabs.

Copies in Public Collections:
Edition I: Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, Madison, Wisconsin, USA; 1968.1.644 [illustrated online]

Edition I: FIne Arts Museums of San Francisco, Achenbach Foundation, San Francisco, California, USA; 1998.131.16 [illustrated online]

Species Illustrated:
Common Reed , Phragmites australis, 蘆, 芦, 葦, 葭, あし, アシ, ashi, 'reed', is a native waterplant found in Japan and much of temperate South and East Asia. The Japanese name is also a general one for 'reed' and refers to any similar species. [Note that 蘆, 芦, 葦, 葭 can also be read よし, ヨシ, yoshi.] The descriptor 若, waka, 'young', in botanical usage refers to 'new growth, new leaves, etc.

Japanese Freshwater Crab, Geothelphusa dehaani, 沢蟹, さわがに, サワガニ, sawa-gani, lit. 'river crab' is a common native species. These small crabs are eaten and are readily available in markets. (It remains possible that more than one kind of similar freshwater crab is illustrated in this theme. In designs 131-1 and 131-4 the crabs are hairier, but this may be an artistic device to indicate algal growth on the shell.)