Antique Original Japanese Woodblock Print by Utagawa Kunisada -Famous Women- Ben no Naishi c.1840
This beautiful Japanese full oban-size woodblock print is by the renowned late-Edo artist Utagawa Kunisada (1786 - 1864), also known as Kunisada I and Toyokuni III. He was one of the most prominent artists and printmakers of the late Edo era (1600-1864) and the most productive ukiyo-e artist, creating about 20,000 images, each printed in several hundred copies.
The print depicts Ben no Naishi - a female poet of the early Kamakura period. Author of "Ben no Naishi Nikki" (Diary of Ben no Naishi). One of the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets. She has been known as the most beautiful woman in the Southern Court. In the picture, she is sitting near an elegant ikebana of chrysanthemums and other flowers, holding a piece of paper and a brush, apparently writing a poem. Maybe the same poem that is written in the fan-shaped cartouche in the upper right.
The print belongs to the series called "Mirror of Famous Women of Japan (Yamato kōmei retsujo kagami)".
Utagawa Kunisada was a prolific woodblock print artist, best known for his pictures of beautiful women (bijinga) and kabuki actors (yakusha-e). Born in Edo (today’s Tokyo), he became a pupil of Utagawa Toyokuni (1769-1825) at age 15 and later adopted the traditional Japanese practice of taking his master's name, becoming Toyokuni III and continuing the development of the Utagawa art school. Kunisada’s pictures reflect Japan's culture in the years leading up to the country’s opening to the West. He published his first book illustrations in 1807 and his first actor portrait the following year.
The print was made using the Japanese woodblock technique during Kunisada's lifetime. It bears the artist's signature, "Gototei Kunisada ga". It is stamped with the publisher's seal of Joshuya Shigezo.
AUTHOR: Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III)
TITLE: Ben no Naishi Writing a Poem
SERIES: "Mirror of Famous Women of Japan (Yamato kōmei retsujo kagami)"
PUBLISHER: Joshuya Shigezo
CREATED: c.1840-41
PAPER: washi paper
METHOD OF PRINTING: Woodblock printing
PRINTED: Lifetime printing circa 1840s
OVERALL SIZE: 10" X 14.75"
The condition is fair. The paper has some toning, staining, and a couple of minor wormholes. Please see the pictures for condition details. No backing, but it has a small patch of washi paper with a rosette. The paper is fragile; handle with care!
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