Utagawa Kunisada I

Genji noryo no kei (Nobleman With a Fan, Banks of the Sumida River, Edo)

An original Japanese woodcut by Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III), "Genji noryo no kei (Nobleman With a Fan, Banks of the Sumida River, Edo)" is printed upon mid nineteenth century mulberry paper with full margins as published by Hiranoya in 1861. Kunisada was a master of Ukiyo-e (Pictures of the Floating World), best known for his portrayals of Japanese figure and character studies. Ukiyo-e art embraced the traditional and contemporary habits, and tastes of the Japanese people with depictions of kabuki and puppet theaters, festivals, merchants and shops, teahouses, the world of the courtesan, and any subject dealing with everyday life. This scene depicts a nobleman, most likely, Genji enjoying the cool evening breeze during the summer banquet given by Genji at his fishing pavilion. Here, Genji is standing on a platform which is floating on the banks of the Sumida River in Edo (Tokyo), a scene from A Modern-Day Genji, chapter (26). However, the scene may also represent one of Genji's favourite place, the pleasure quarters of Edo, named the Floating World. This is a fine, original example from Kunisada's last segment of artistic creativity.

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Title:	Genji noryo no kei (Nobleman With a Fan, Banks of the Sumida River, Edo)
Artist:	Kunisada I, Utagawa 'Toyokuni III' (Japan, 1786 - 1864)
Date:	1861
Medium:	Original Japanese Woodcut
Publisher:	Hiranoya
Signature:	Signed Toyokuni-ga
Note:	Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III): Perhaps the best known printmaking artist of his day, Kunisada apprenticed under Toyokuni. Kunisada's earliest woodcuts date from 1809 and he quickly established himself as a master of figure and character studies. Because of his chronological changes of signatures, Kunisada's woodcuts are not difficult to date: his first works were signed, 'Ichiyusai Kunisada', and bear the definite influence of his master. About 1813, he began inscribing his woodcuts, 'Gototei Kunisada', and from 1827, he adopted the 'go' or 'ga' suffix. Finally, in 1844, he took his deceased master's name -- a not uncommon practice in Japanese art -- and signed his works, 'Toyokuni'. "Genji noryo no kei (Nobleman With a Fan, Banks of the Sumida River, Edo)" represents a fine example from this, Kunisada's last segment of artistic creativity.
	When the Western world first discovered the artistic value of the Japanese woodcut (c. 1865) it was the designs of Utagawa Kunisada I which primarily attracted the greatest attention. His superb use of line, perspective and colour influenced an entire legion of European artists. Toulouse-Lautrec, Whistler, Van Gogh, Vuillard, Bonnard and many others all owed a considerable deal to the splendid creations of this Japanese master of the woodcut.
	Utagawa Kunisada I Toyokuni III was a master of Ukiyo-e (Pictures of the Floating World), best known for his portrayals of Japanese figure and character studies. Ukiyo-e art embraced the traditional and contemporary habits and tastes of the Japanese people with depictions of kabuki and puppet theaters, festivals, merchants and shops, teahouses, the world of the courtesan, and just about any subject dealing with everyday life. "Genji noryo no kei (Nobleman With a Fan, Banks of the Sumida River, Edo)" is a fine example from Kunisada's last segment of artistic creativity. This scene depicts a nobleman, most likely, Genji enjoying the cool evening breeze during the summer banquet given by Genji at his fishing pavilion. Here, Genji is standing on a platform which is floating on the banks of the Sumida River in Edo (Tokyo), a scene from A Modern-Day Genji, chapter (26). However, the scene may also represent one of Genji's favourite place, the pleasure quarters of Edo, named, The Floating World. An original impression of the triptych was exhibited twice at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sidney Australia. The first time was in 1994 for "The Floating World: Japan's World of transient pleasures" exhibition, and the second time was in 2009 for the "Genji - the world of the Shining Prince" exhibition. The Art Gallery of New South Wales includes an impression of this original Utagawa Kunisada I woodcut in its permanent collection, Accession Number: 327.2003.a-c.
	Nise murasaki inaka genji (False Murasaki and a Rural Genji): Japan’s most popular illustrated book of the early nineteenth century Nise murasaki inaka genji (False Murasaki and a Rural Genji) was a novel, written by Ryutei Tanehiko (1783-1842). It was an updated adaptation of the 11th century classic tale of Prince Genji, liberally borrowing scenes from contemporary novels and the kabuki theatre. To say that the novel was popular might be an understatement. Between 1829 and 1842 Ryutei Tanehiko published thirty-eight chapters or installments of Genji, each illustrated by Kunisada and his pupils. And, after the last chapter was published, the craze for scenes from Genji continued well into the century with the creation of further books by different authors and many more woodcuts on the Genji theme by not only Kunisada, but by such other great masters as Kuniyoshi, Yoshitoshi, Kunisada II, and other important Japanese artists. Such is the case with this original Utagawa Kunisada I woodcut, Genji noryo no kei (Nobleman With a Fan, Banks of the Sumida River, Edo) which describes a scene from chapter 26 from, The False Murasaki's Rustic Gengi. Ryutei Tanehiko's, Nise murasaki inaka genji follows the exploits of the handsome warrior, Ashikaga Mitsuuji (second son of the 8th Ashikaga Shogun, Yoshimasa), a character based upon the "Shining Prince Genji" (Hikaru Genji, son of the emperor by a favored lady). Unlike the eleventh century setting portraying Japanese court culture of the Heian period (794 - 1185), described in the Tale of Genji, a novel, composed by the Lady-in waiting, Murasaki Shikibu (c. 973 - c. 1014 / 1025), Tanehiko's, Nise murasaki inaka genji takes place during the fifteenth century Ashikaga Shogunate, a feudal samurai government ruled by the shoguns of the Ashikaga family (1336-1573). Unfortunately, although the setting was based in the Ashikaga Shogunate, it was believed the Inaka Genji reflected much of the current Shogun, Tokugawa Ienari, and his court. Consequently, in 1842, during the Tenpo Reforms, the woodblocks for the Inaka Genji were confiscated and Tanehiko was told to seize publication. Soon after (1842), Ryutei Tanehiko died, leaving the last two chapters of his book unpublished.
Size:	Oban Center Panel (Sizes in inches are approximate, height preceding width of plate-mark or image.)
	Framed and Matted with 100% Archival Materials
	View larger Framed Image

Buy Now	Price: $750.00 US
Condition:	This original Utagawa Kunisada I, woodcut of Genji noryo no kei (Nobleman With a Fan, Banks of the Sumida River, Edo) is the center panel of a triptych printed on mid nineteenth century mulberry (rice) paper and with full margins as published by Hiranoya in 1861. This is an early impression without a sign of creasing, soiling or staining. It is particularly rare to find a nineteenth century Japanese woodcut in absolutely excellent condition.
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Utagawa Kunisada I 'Toyokuni III' (Japan, 1786 - 1864)
#	Image	Title & Artist	Medium	Date	Notes	-
01.-		A Beautiful Woman from the Tale of Genji (Nise murasaki inaka genji) by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	1831	Publisher: Senkakudo
02.-		A Beautiful Woman in an Interior by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	c. 1849 - 1853	'Toyokuni' Signature, Publisher: Kichizo	Sold
03.-		Hana (Flowers) Kacho fugetsu no uchi (Series: Flowers, Birds, Wind & Moon) by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	1847 - 1851	Signed: Kochoro Toyokuni ga, Publisher: Yamamotoya Heikichi	Sold
04.-		A Nobleman in a Boat by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	c. 1820 - 1827	'Gototei Kunisada' Signature	Sold
05.-		A Pilgrimage to Mount Fuji by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	c. 1849 - 1853	'Toyokuni' Signature, Publisher: Tsutaya Kichizo	Sold
06.-		A Seated Nobleman from the Tale of Genji (Nise Murasaki Inaka Genji) by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	1839	Publisher: Senkakudo	Sold
07.-		Actors Arashi Hinasuke I as Oboshi Yuranosuke and Ichikawa Monnosuke III as Oboshi Rikiya Seated in Front of the Prayer Table	Original Woodcut	1847-1852	Signed: Ichiyosai Toyokuni ga, Publisher: Miyakozawa
08.-		Actors Ichimura Uzaemon XIII as Kincho's Son (Segare) Kinko, Seki Sanjuro III as Iyam (Playing Hagoita) by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	1856	Signed: Toyokuni ga, Publisher: Omiya Kyujiro
09.-		An Actor in The Role of a Warrior, Kabuki Play (Ichikawa Ebizo V as Shirafuji Genta) by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	1840	Signed: Gototei Kunisada ga, Publisher: Yamamotoya Heikich	Sold
10.-		An Autumn Stroll in a Garden Landscape by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	1854	'Toyokuni' Signature	Sold
11.-		An Old Man and a Young Woman from the Tale of Genji (Nise Murasaki Inaka Genji) by Kunisada	Two Original Woodcuts	Between 1829 & 1842	Publisher: Senkakudo
12.-		Biwa-Hoshi On The Tokaido Road Near Maisaka: Sohitsu gojusan tsugi (The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido by two Brushes) by Kunisada and Hiroshige	Original Woodcut	c. 1854 - 1857	Signed Hiroshige ga & Kunisada ga, Publisher: Maruya Kishuro	Sold
13.-		Narumi: Sohitsu gojusan tsugi (The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido by two Brushes) by Kunisada and Hiroshige	Original Woodcut	c. 1854 - 1857	Hiroshige hitsu & Toyokuni ga (with Censor Seals), Publisher: Maruya Kishuro	Sold
14.-		Genji noryo no kei (Nobleman With a Fan, Banks of the Sumida River, Edo) by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	1861	Toyokuni' Signature, Publisher: Hiranoya
15.-		Portrait of a Nobleman with a Fan and a Flute by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	c. 1820 - 1827	'Gototei Kunisada' Signature	Sold
16.-		Princess Takiyasha-hime (The Beautiful Sorceress) by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	1850	'Toyokuni' Signature, Publisher: Sumiyoshiya Masagoro, of Yotsuya	Sold
17.-		Sangi Hitoshi (Ogura Hyakunin Isshu - A Pictoral Comentary on One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets) by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	1845	Signed: Ichiyusai Toyokuni ga, Publisher: Sanoya Kihei
18.-		The Legend of The Nine Tailed Fox (Yamato Province: Fox (Kitsune) Tadanobu) by Kunisada I and Kunisada II	Original Woodcut	1845	Signed: Ichiyosai Toyokuni ga (within the main image); Toyokuni monjin Kunimasa ga (on the insert) Publisher: Aamitaya Kiyoyemon	Sold
19.-		Three Figures in a Winter Landscape (Travelers in the Snow) by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	c.1820 - 1827	'Gototei Kunisada' Signature	Sold
20.-		Yotsuya: Actor Bando Hikosaburo V as the Ghost of Oiwa (Flowers of Edo and Views of Famous) by Kunisada and Sadahide	Original Woodcut	1863	Signed: Toyokuni ga, (bottom right); & Tou ga (top); Sadahide ga (Bottom left), Publisher: Katoya Iwazo

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