Japanese Woodblock Print, Seated Beauty, Genji Series, 豊国画 (Toyokuni ga), Signed, Framed

About the Item

豊国画 (Toyokuni ga). A kneeling woman turns her head to the left, an ornamental hairpin in her piled black coiffure. Her outer kimono is deep black scattered with orange and blue chrysanthemum roundels over an under-robe of banded geometric orange and blue, the fabric spreading in a broad triangle across the lower sheet. Small lacquer vessels sit on the ground at lower right, the field is flecked with dark speckles, and a red title cartouche with a blue chapter cartouche sits at upper right. Colours are black, rust orange, indigo and cream on toned paper. Medium: colour woodblock print (nishiki-e) on Japanese paper. Signed cartouche at centre left of the print, reading "豊国画 (Toyokuni ga)". Inscribed on the reverse or mount: 源氏後集餘情 (Genji goshu yojo) , red title cartouche, upper right; blue chapter cartouche below the title, cursive characters, not legible in the photographs; 豊国画 (Toyokuni ga) , red toshidama-style signature cartouche, centre left; 横川彫竹 (Yokokawa Horitake) , block-carver's seal beside the signature. Condition: Paper toned with light foxing and a few small stains; colours strong, black robe still dense. Glass reflects a lit sign in the room in one photograph.

About the Artist

The Toyokuni ga signature belongs to Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865), who took the name Toyokuni III in 1844 and was the most prolific and commercially successful ukiyo-e print designer of nineteenth century Japan. The series Genji goshu yojo, Lingering Sentiments of a Late Collection of Genji, is a documented Kunisada series of the late 1850s based on the Rustic Genji story.

Details

Creator:

Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III)

Creation Year:

mid 19th century, late Edo period

Dimensions:

Height: 19.4 in (49.28 cm)
Width: 14.25 in (36.2 cm)
outside of frame

Medium:

colour woodblock print (nishiki-e) on Japanese paper

Period:

19Th

Condition:

Offered in the condition shown in the photographs.

Reference Number:

VO-217

Documentation:

no certificate present

Gallery Location:

源氏後集餘情 (Genji goshu yojo) , red title cartouche, upper right; blue chapter cartouche below the title, cursive characters, not legible in the photographs; 豊国画 (Toyokuni ga) , red toshidama-style signature cartouche, centre left