Antique Japanese Original Woodblock Print Triptych by Kunisada -Genji's Sword- c.1847
Presented is a beautiful Japanese full oban-size woodblock print, triptych, created by the renowned artist of the late Edo period, Utagawa Kunisada (1786 - 1864), also known as Kunisada I and Toyokuni III. He was one of the most prominent artists and printmakers during the late Edo era (1600-1864) and the most productive of all ukiyo-e artists - he had created about 20,000 images, each of them printed in several hundred prints.
This print is a triptych - a three-sheet print called "Colorful Flowering Grasses in the Light of the Full Moon" (Monaka no tsuki iro no kusabana). The descriptive title, I guess, would be "Prince Genji's Sword" or, rather "Rustic Genji's Sword" since I belive the triptych illustrates no the original "Genji Monogatari" 11th century novel by Murasaki Shikobu, but the new one, published in 1829-42 called "A Rustic Genji by a Fraudulent Murasaki" (Nise Murasaki Inaka Genji), by Ryūtei Tanehiko (1783–1842). It reimagines Prince Genji as Ashikaga Mitsuuji, a dashing 15th-century samurai searching for stolen treasures, blending classical literature with Kabuki drama, urban pleasure quarters, and contemporary fashion.
The center sheet portrays Mitsuuji, the Rustic Genji. In the left sheet, we see an old samurai bringing Mitssuji's sword - this is the long katana - we see that Mitssuji is wearing a short sword, wakizashi, with the same handle and the same scabbard. The samurai is handing the sword to one of the Mitsuuji household ladies. Two other ladies on the right sheet are observing the scene.
Kunisada created many prints illustrating various chapters and episodes of "Genji Monogatari". He was also the first illustrator of the "Nise Murasaki Inaka Genji" ("A Fraudulent Murasaki's Rustic Genji"),
The print was made using the Japanese woodblock technique in 1847 during Kunisada's lifetime. All three sheets of the triptych are signed with Kunisada's signature (Kunisada aratame Nidai Toyokuni ga (on right and center sheets), Ōju Kunisada aratame Nidai Toyokuni ga (on left sheet)) and stamped with the publisher's seal of Tsutaya Kichizo (Koeido)
AUTHOR: Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III)
PUBLISHER: Tsutaya Kichizo (Koeido)
TITLE: "Colorful Flowering Grasses in the Light of the Full Moon" (Monaka no tsuki iro no kusabana)
PAPER: washi paper
METHOD OF PRINTING: Woodblock printing
PRINTED: Lifetime printing circa 1840s-1850s
PRINT SIZE: Three sheets 14" X 9.3" (28" X 14" altogether)
The condition is good. Great detail and colors, some toning and soiling of the paper. Margins are trimmed. The prints are backed with washi paper. Please see the photos for details.
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