Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III). Courtesan playing a kokyū, from the series ‘Assortments of Beauties Accomplishments’, 1829.

A young woman playing a four-string musical instrument with a bow (kokyū).

Series: Assortments of Beauties Accomplishments [美人芸盡] (Bijin gei-zukushi).

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

Signed: Kochoro Kunisada ga [香蝶楼国貞画] in a red double gourd cartouche.

Publisher: Ibaya Kyūbei [伊場屋久兵衛] (Japanese, 1804 – 1851); seal: Hanmoto, Kyū [板元久] (Marks 19-040 | 126e)

Date seal: Bunsei 12 (1829).

Censors’ seal: Kiwame.

Size: Fan print (uchiwa-e).

Collection	Japanese prints and drawings
Country	Japan
Period	19 AD, Bunsei era [文政] (04/ 1818 – 12/1830), Edo Period (1603 – 1868), Mid-19th century
Media	Ink and color on paper, Woodblock print (nishiki-e)
Artist	Utagawa Kunisada [歌川国貞] a.k.a. Utagawa Toyokuni III [三代歌川豊国] (Japanese, 1786 – 1865)
Publisher	Ibaya Kyūbei [伊場屋久兵衛] (Japanese, 1804 – 1851)
Publishing year	1829, Bunsei 12
Subject	Beautiful woman (bijin-ga), Beauty, Music, Musical instruments
Signatures/Inscriptions/Marks	Censor seal: Kiwame, Date seal, Publisher's seal
Size	Fan print. Uchiwa-e
Acquisition year	2021

Collection