Utagawa Kunisada II (1823-1880) and Utagawa Hiroshige II (Shigenobu, 1826-1869)
A young beauty holds the sleeve of a young man sitting next to her, while she turns her head towards an older woman who is holding a sword. To the right is a screen depicting autumn flowers. In the folding fan picture at the top two flowering branches are shown. The whole picture is framed by a pattern with the Genji-kô symbol for the 22nd chapter of the Genji novel.
Title: Chapter 22 - Miotsukushi
Series: Omokage Genji gojûyo-jô (Vestiges of the Fifty-four Chapters of Genji)
Signatures and seals: Baichôrô Kunisada hitsu with Toshidama seal; Ryûsai with seal (Hiroshige?)
Publisher: Tsutaya Kichizô (Tsutakichi, Kôeidô), Edo
Date: 1864, 1st month
Size: Vertical Ôban, 37.5 x 25.2 cm (overall)
Very good impression, excellent colours, with some metallic pigment. The uncoloured background is karazuri-embossed with a continuous pattern of undulating sea waves. Unbacked, full sheet. Slightly creased, a brownish spot in the head and shoulder area of the young woman. Toned on top, also verso. Paper on top margin partially thinner, upper right corner bevelled. Overall very good.
For this Genji series see Andreas Marks, Genji's World in Japanese Woodblock Prints. Leiden 2012, p. 232 and p. 279, no. G 554. Cf. also MFA Boston 11.37391.22, Tokyo Metropolitan Library 4574-C001-020, with a transcription of the waka poem in the fan.
sold