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Hasegawa Takejiro - The Cub's Triumph, 1886

Hasegawa Takejiro (Tokyo, 1853 - 1938)

The Cub's Triumph [Kitsune No Tegara], 1886

Ink and color on paper , 18 x 12.5 cm (7 1/16 x 4 15/16 in.)

Commentary

The Japanese Fairy Tales book series was first published in Tokyo by the Kobunsha press in the mid-1880s. Kobunsha’s founder, Takejiro Hasegawa (1853-1938), originally created these English translations of Japanese folk stories as schoolbooks for Japanese students. After realizing that they would also be popular with a Western audience, Hasegawa redesigned them as souvenirs for tourists. 


Isabella Stewart Gardner was fascinated by Japanese culture and toured the country with her husband in 1883. She created a Japanese garden for her Brookline residence, and acquired Japanese art for her museum. Gardner purchased seventeen Hasegawa books, taking care to acquire first editions published for Japanese readers when possible.