Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III). The Stars, from the series ‘Moon, Sun, Stars’ / Fan print, c. 1850.

Artist: Utagawa Kunisada [歌川国貞] a.k.a. Utagawa Toyokuni III [三代歌川豊国] (Japanese, 1786 – 1865).

Signed: Ōju Toyokuni ga [応需豊国画], in a toshidama cartouche.

Double nanushi censor seals: Mera & Murata (1846-50).

Publisher: Kojimaya Jūbei [小嶋屋重兵衛] (Japanese, fl. c. 1797 – 1869).

A beautiful woman, possibly a kabuki actor Iwai Hanshirō VIII [岩井半四郎] (Iwai Shijaku II, Iwai Kumesaburō III [岩井粂三郎], Iwai Hisajirō II, Japanese, 1829 – 1882), tuning the samisen on a veranda under the shining stars.

The complete set of series Moon, Sun, Stars [月日星] (tsuki-hi-hoshi/boshi), three sources of light (sankō) [三光]:

Utagawa Kunisada. Fan print triptych. Jitsu getsu sei no uchi. Moon. Circa 1850.

SVJP-0211-1.2016: The Moon

Utagawa Kunisada. Fan print triptych. Jitsu getsu sei no uchi. Sun. Circa 1850.

SVJP-0211-2.2016: The Sun

Utagawa Kunisada. Fan print triptych. Jitsu getsu sei no uchi. Stars. Circa 1850.

SVJP-0211-3.2016: The Stars

Collection	Japanese prints and drawings
Type or purpose	Fan, Woodblock print
Period	19 AD, Edo Period (1603 – 1868), Mid-19th century
Country	Japan
Media	Ink and color on paper
Technique	Woodblock print (nishiki-e)
Subject	Actor print, Celestial bodies, Kabuki actor, Moon, Stars, Sun
Character / Sitter	Iwai Hanshirō VIII (Japanese, 1829 – 1882) [Iwai Shijaku II, Iwai Kumesaburō III, Iwai Hisajirō II]
School	Utagawa (歌川)
Artist	Utagawa Kunisada [歌川国貞] a.k.a. Utagawa Toyokuni III [三代歌川豊国] (Japanese, 1786 – 1865)
Size	Fan print. Uchiwa-e
Publisher	Kojimaya Jūbei [小島屋重兵衛] (Japanese, c. 1797 – 1869)
Acquisition year	2016

Collection

Japanese prints and drawings