Utagawa Kunisada I

A Beautiful Woman from the Tale of Genji (Nise Murasaki Inaka Genji)

An original woodcut by Utagawa Kunisada I, A Beautiful Woman from the Tale of Genji originates from Japan’s most popular illustrated book of the early nineteenth century; Nise murasaki inaka genji (False Murasaki and a Rural Genji) published between 1829 and 1842. Written by Ryutei Tanehiko (1783-1842), Nise murasaki inaka genji, 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 and Yoshitoshi. This original woodcut illustrates a portrait of a beautiful woman surrounded by hiragana script and possibly some kanji. It is printed upon early 19th century Japanese rice paper and with full margins as published by Senkakudo in 1831. This is a fine, original example of the famous art of Utagawa Kunisada and of the Japanese woodcut of the early nineteenth century.

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Title:	A Beautiful Woman from the Tale of Genji
Artist:	Utagawa Kunisada I, Utagawa 'Toyokuni III' (Japan, 1786 - 1864)
Date:	1831
Medium:	Original Japanese Woodcut
Publisher:	Senkakudo
Publication:	Nise murasaki inaka genji (False Murasaki and a Rural Genji)
Note:	Utagawa Kunisada I: 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’.
	When the Western world first discovered the artistic value of the Japanese woodcut (c. 1865) it was the designs of Kunisada 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.
	Apart from his many individual prints of oban size, Utagawa Kunisada devoted much of his talents to the illustrated book. Besides Nise murasaki inaka genji Kunisada also provided woodcuts for such e-hon (picture books) as Shika no nagame (c. 1830) and Yakusha sanju-rokkasen (1835).
	Nise murasaki inaka genji (False Murasaki and a Rural Genji): This nineteenth century Utagawa Kunisada woodcut hails from the 1831 issue of Nise murasaki inaka genji (False Murasaki and a Rural Genji), chap. 4 p. published by Senkakudo in 1831. Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan. It portrays a beautiful woman wearing the traditional kimono of the period. She is seated with her face turned to the right and appears to be holding a letter. The woman's illustration is surrounded, by text on all sides, clearly showing Kunisada's gift for uniting form and image with calligraphy. The text on most of the woodcuts from the Nise murasaki inaka genji is hiragana script (a script developed from Chinese characters, mainly used by women or men who wrote in kanji), with the rare appearance of a kanji (Chinese character).
	A Beautiful Woman from the Tale of Genji originates from Japan’s most popular illustrated book of the early nineteenth century; Nise murasaki inaka genji (False Murasaki and a Rural Genji). Written by Ryutei Tanehiko (1783-1842), Nise murasaki inaka genji was Japan’s most popular illustrated book of the early nineteenth century. 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 and Yoshitoshi. 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:	6 x 4 (Sizes in inches are approximate, height preceding width of plate-mark or image.)

	Framed and Matted with 100% Archival Materials
Buy Now	Price: $345.00 US
Condition:	Printed upon early nineteenth century Japanese mulberry (rice) paper and with full margins as published for one of the Nise murasaki inaka genji (False Murasaki and a Rural Genji) by Senkakudo in 1831. There is slight thinning to the paper along the lower central margin as well, the top right margin has been re-enforced with acid free tape (well away from the image), by a previous owner, else a good early impression bearing all the fine lines an initial printing. A Beautiful Woman from the Tale of Genji represents a fine, original example of the famous art of Utagawa Kunisada and of the Japanese woodcut of the early nineteenth century.
Subject:	Utagawa Kunisada, Original Japanese Woodcut, A Beautiful Woman from the Tale of Genji, Nise murasaki inaka genji (False Murasaki and a Rural Genji), Ryutei Tanehiko, Prince Genji, e-hon (picture books), Senkakudo, hiragana (a script developed from Chinese characters, mainly used by women or men who wrote in kanji), kanji (Chinese character)
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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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