Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 15

Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III)
Elegant Amusements of Eastern Genji - Japanese Triptych Woodblock Print on Paper

1854

$1,550
£1,197.64
€1,384.59
CA$2,190.26
A$2,456.52
CHF 1,286.44
MX$29,849.17
NOK 16,335.68
SEK 15,487.38
DKK 10,335.23

About the Item

Elegant Amusements of Eastern Genji - Japanese Triptych Woodblock Print on Paper Dynamic woodblock print with several elegantly dressed figures by Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III) (Japanese, 1786-1864). Several well dressed people are gathered around a small boat on a balcony near the water. The boat contains a small child, also dressed in colorful garments. In the background, there is a rich landscape of mountains, trees, and water. Artst's chop in the lower portion of each panel. Presented in a rustic frame, mounted on a backing board. Frame size: 22.5"H x 32.5"W Total print size: 13.75"H x 28.75"W During his lifetime Kunisada Utagawa was considered to be the best print designer by his contemporaries. He was more popular than Hiroshige, Hokusai or Kuniyoshi. And Kunisada was extremely productive. His total output is estimated at more than 20,000 designs, many made by his students. Kunisada was born near Edo (today Tokyo) as the son of an affluent merchant with a ferry boat license. At the age of fifteen he joined the famous art school of Utagawa Toyokuni and took the name Kunisada. In 1807 the young artist produced his first illustrated book. And in 1808 his first actor prints were published. His fame grew fast. While other artists like Kuniyoshi Utagawa or Hiroshige had to fight for recognition for years, he was successful from the beginning. He went on to become the most commercially successful of all woodblock printmakers ever. His early success may not have had a good influence on his personality. He had a reputation for his conceited personality. Kunisada designed a wide spectrum of traditional ukiyo-e subjects like kabuki themes, beautiful women, historical events and quite a few shunga prints. He made few landscapes.
  • Creator:
    Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) (1786-1864, Japanese)
  • Creation Year:
    1854
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 22.5 in (57.15 cm)Width: 32.5 in (82.55 cm)Depth: 1 in (2.54 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    Tonal ageing to paper, as expected. Paper has been mounted to a backing board by a previous owner. Frame is rustic and shows signs of use and wear.
  • Gallery Location:
    Soquel, CA
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: DBH76251stDibs: LU54212659532

More From This Seller

View All
Annual Events for Young Murasaki (July) - Tales of Genji - Japanese Woodblock
By Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III)
Located in Soquel, CA
Annual Events for Young Murasaki (July) - Tales of Genji - Japanese Woodblock Rightmost panel a triptych, depicting monthly events for Wakamurasaki (Young Murasaki). This is the month of July. There appears to be a lesson taking place, possibly for writing or poetry. Artist: Toyokuni III/Kunisada (1786 - 1864) Publisher: Ebisu-ya Shoshichist Presented in a new blue mat. Mat size: 19"H x 13"W Paper size: 14.5"H x 10"W Commentary on the triptych: In the Edo period, Tanabata was designated as one of the five seasonal festivals, and became an annual event for the imperial court, aristocrats, and samurai families, and gradually came to be celebrated by the general public. Its origins are said to be a combination of the Kikoden festival, which originated from the Chinese legend of Altair and the Weaver Girl, and Japan's ancient Tanabata women's faith. Ink is ground with dew that has accumulated on potato leaves, poems and wishes are written on five colored strips of paper, which are then hung on bamboo branches to celebrate the two stars that meet once a year. Although the illustration is a Genji painting...
Category

1850s Realist Figurative Prints

Materials

Printer's Ink, Rice Paper, Woodcut

The Four Seasons: Spring Japanese Woodblock Triptych ink on Paper Tales of Genji
Located in Soquel, CA
The Four Seasons: Spring - Japanese Woodblock Triptych in Ink on Paper Colorful kabuki scene by Utagawa Kuniteru (Japanese, active 1818-18...
Category

Early 19th Century Edo Figurative Prints

Materials

Paper, Ink, Woodcut

"Sun Saburo Matsugaya" - Mid 19th Century Figurative Japanese Woodblock Print
By Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III)
Located in Soquel, CA
"Sun Saburo Matsugaya" - Mid 19th Century Figurative Japanese Woodblock Print Beautiful mid 19th century figural Japanese woodblock print of a seated man with lilies in the background by Utagawa Toyokuni III (Kunisada) (Japanese, 1786-1864/5). Artist's chop is in the lower right corner of the piece. The actor is Magosaburo Matsugaya from the play "Katakiuchi Rumors" Presented in a new grey-blue mat with foamcore backing. Mat size: 21"H x 16"W Paper size: 14"H x 9.75"W During his lifetime Kunisada Utagawa...
Category

1850s Edo Figurative Prints

Materials

Paper, Ink, Woodcut

"Various Himochi" Wagashi Festival Japanese Woodblock Print by Utagawa Toyokuni
By Utagawa Toyokuni
Located in Soquel, CA
"Various Himochi" Wagashi Festival Japanese Woodblock Print by Utagawa Toyokuni Rare oversized early 19th century 5-tiered woodblock by Utagawa Ichiyosai Toyokuni, (Japan, 1769-1825), a Japanese lord and wife oversee a sekku festival of food, music, and dolls or toys. '"oshi" is the first day of “Mi (Snake)” in the third month of the lunar calendar. This day, known in modern Japan as the Girls' Festival, originated in China as a form of purification ceremony in which water and drinking peach blossom wine were used to drive away evil. Many kinds of hishi-mochi appear in this picture of hina ningyo (dolls associated with Hinamatsuri, or the Girl’s Day) from Omochae. The custom of eating special dishes at events throughout the year and at milestones in people's lives has existed since ancient times. This paragraph specifically focuses on the annual event called sekku, and life events that involve eating sweets. Joshi is the first day of “Mi (Snake)” in the third month of the lunar calendar. This day, known in modern Japan as the Girls' Festival, originated in China as a form of purification ceremony in which water and drinking peach blossom wine were used to drive away evil. According to the Keiso saijiki, in ancient China, on the third day of the third lunar month, people ate “ryuzetsuhan,” which is the juice of gogyo (Jersey cudweed) mixed with rice flour and nectar. In Japan, there is a record in the Heian period history book Nihon Montoku tenno jitsuroku [839-5] that it was an annual event to make kusamochi using gogyo on the third day of the third month of the lunar calendar, which may have been influenced by Chinese customs. The tradition of eating kusamochi on the third day of the third month of the lunar calendar continued after that. By the Edo period, however, hishimochi had come to be used as a sweet to serve on the third day of the third month. A picture of a hishimochi is included in the Morisada manko , which we mentioned in Part 1. According to it, hishimochi in the Edo period were often three layers of green-white-green instead of the now common red-white-green. However, it is possible to see from our collection that not all hishimochi were made in this way. Omochae published in 1857, is a good example. Omochae is a type of ukiyoe print...
Category

1820s Edo Figurative Prints

Materials

Ink, Rice Paper, Woodcut

"Toy Horse Dance" Japanese Woodblock Triptych with Beauties and Mt Fuji
Located in Soquel, CA
"Toy Horse Dance" Japanese Woodblock Triptych with Beauties and Mt Fuji Vibrant three-panel woodblock print by Utagawa Toyohiro (Japanese,...
Category

Early 20th Century Edo Figurative Prints

Materials

Ink, Rice Paper, Woodcut

"Juro Sukenari, Station #9: Oiso", Mid 19th Century Japanese Ukiyo-e Woodblock
By Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III)
Located in Soquel, CA
Beautiful mid 19th century Japanese woodblock print of a samurai by Utagawa Toyokuni III (Kunisada) (Japanese, 1786-1864/5). This piece is from a series of "The 53 Stations of the To...
Category

1860s Edo Figurative Prints

Materials

Paper, Ink

You May Also Like

Yugiri - Woodcut by Utagawa Kunisada - 1850s
By Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III)
Located in Roma, IT
Yugiri is an original artwork realized in the 1850s by Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865). Chapter 39 of the story Genji Monogatari. Color woodcut around 1851. Signed: Ichiyossai Toyokun...
Category

1850s Modern Figurative Prints

Materials

Woodcut

Genji in the Twelve Months - Woodcut by Utagawa Toyokuni III - 1858
By Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III)
Located in Roma, IT
Genji in the Twelve Months / The Tenth Month (Moto) is a tryptich woodcut print realized by Utagawa Toyokuni III in 1858. Very good condition except for some minor signs of wear.
Category

1850s Modern Figurative Prints

Materials

Woodcut

Genjie - Woodcut by Utagawa Kunisada - 1850
Located in Roma, IT
Genjie is an original artwork realized in 1850 by Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865). Oban yokoe. From the series "Sono Sugata yukari no utsushi-e", 39th chapter. Genji and his son Yug...
Category

1850s Modern Figurative Prints

Materials

Woodcut

Genjie - Woodcut by Utagawa Kunisada - 1852
By Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III)
Located in Roma, IT
Genjie is an original artwork realized in 1852 by Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865). Oban yokoe. From the series "Sono Sugata yukari no utsushi-e" (Faithful images of the Radiant Princ...
Category

1850s Modern Figurative Prints

Materials

Woodcut

The Radiant Prince Genji - Woodcut Print by Utagawa Kunisada - 1850s
Located in Roma, IT
Plate from Faithful Images of the Radiant Prince Genji is an original modern artwork realized by Utagawa Kunisada in 1850s. Woodcut print Oban yokoe format. From the series "Sono...
Category

19th Century Modern Figurative Prints

Materials

Woodcut

Kabuki Scene- Woodcut Print by Utagawa Kunisada - 1850s
Located in Roma, IT
Kabuki Scene is an original artwork realized in the mid 19th century by the Japanese master Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865). Color woodcut print. The artwork is a rare triptych (each ...
Category

Mid-19th Century Modern Figurative Prints

Materials

Woodcut