Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1865)
The Bluebell (Asagao), Chapter Number 20 (Dai niju no maki), from the series Lingering Sentiments of a Late Collection of Genji (Genji goshu yojo), 1858, 2nd month
Woodblock print on deluxe paper with special effects including blind-printing, burnishing and gradation
Vertical oban diptych (each sheet):
36.3 x 25.2 cm.
14 1/4 x 9 7/8 in.
36.3 x 25.2 cm.
14 1/4 x 9 7/8 in.
Each sheet signed: Toyokuni ga
Sealed: date seal Horse 2 (February 1858)
Publisher: Uoya Eikichi
Engraver: Yokogawa Takejiro
Sealed: date seal Horse 2 (February 1858)
Publisher: Uoya Eikichi
Engraver: Yokogawa Takejiro
In this diptych, Asagiri (seated on the right) is troubled how to reply to a love letter in her hand from Mitsuuji who is seated at a writing desk on...
In this diptych, Asagiri (seated on the right) is troubled how to reply to a love letter in her hand from Mitsuuji who is seated at a writing desk on the left sheet.
This is the twentieth diptych in a series of thirty-eight plus a frontispiece. The illustrations are based on two gokan (popular literature published in bound volumes), both illustrated by Kunisada - A Fraudulent Murasaki's Rustic Genji (Nise Murasaki inaka Genji), published 1829-42, and its sequel A Related Rustic Visage (Sono yukari hina no omokage), published 1847-64.
Another impression of this diptych is in the collection of The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, accession no.00.951-2, go to: https://collections.mfa.org/objects/514517
The complete set of A Fraudulent Murasaki's Rustic Genji is in the collection of The MET, NY, accession no. 2018.914.1a-v, go to: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/812249
For further reading see: Andreas Marks, Genji's World in Japanese Woodblock Prints, (Leiden, 2012), p. 136-151
This is the twentieth diptych in a series of thirty-eight plus a frontispiece. The illustrations are based on two gokan (popular literature published in bound volumes), both illustrated by Kunisada - A Fraudulent Murasaki's Rustic Genji (Nise Murasaki inaka Genji), published 1829-42, and its sequel A Related Rustic Visage (Sono yukari hina no omokage), published 1847-64.
Another impression of this diptych is in the collection of The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, accession no.00.951-2, go to: https://collections.mfa.org/objects/514517
The complete set of A Fraudulent Murasaki's Rustic Genji is in the collection of The MET, NY, accession no. 2018.914.1a-v, go to: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/812249
For further reading see: Andreas Marks, Genji's World in Japanese Woodblock Prints, (Leiden, 2012), p. 136-151