Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III). Edo Murasaki – Fake Murasaki’s Rustic Genji / Fan print, 1853.

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

Signed: Toyokuni ga [豊国画] in a yellow toshidama cartouche.

Publisher: Unknown, seal [久] Kyū (Japanese, fl. c. 1851 – 1861); (Marks 07-023 | U176a, possibly Sagamia Kyūzō).

Block carver: Koizumi Minokichi [小泉巳の吉] (Japanese, 1833 – 1906); seal: Hori Mino [彫已の] (Gordon Friese № 38).

Date seal and double nanushi censor seals: Fuku & Muramatsu, Kaei 6, 2^nd month (2/1853).

Inscription in a red cartouche: (Purple of Edo // Purple of the Bay Capital) [江都むらさき] (Edo Murasaki), alluding to Murasaki Shikibu [紫式部] (Japanese, c. 973/8 – c. 1014/31), the author of Genji Monogatari [源氏物語] (The Tale of Genji), a Heian period novel which was the source of a parody Nise Murasaki Inaka Genji [偐紫田舎源氏] (Fake Murasaki’s Rustic Genji) by Ryutei Tanehiko [柳亭種彦] (Japanese, 1783 – 1842).

According to Horst Graebner: The actor is most probably Segawa Kikunojō V.

Segawa Kikunojō V [瀬川菊之丞] (Japanese, 1802 – 1832); other names: Segawa Tamon I.

One of the series of Kunisada’s fan prints in this collection:

Collection	Japanese prints and drawings
Type or purpose	Fan, Woodblock print
Period	19 AD, Edo Period (1603 – 1868), Kaei [嘉永] (1848 – 1854), Mid-19th century
Country	Japan
Media	Ink and color on paper, Woodblock print (nishiki-e)
Size	Fan print. Uchiwa-e
Subject	Fake Murasaki’s Rustic Genji [偐紫田舎源氏] (Nise Murasaki inaka Genji), Genji-e, Kabuki, Kabuki actor, Kabuki actors, Kabuki theater, Murasaki Shikibu [紫式部] (Japanese, c. 973/8 – c. 1014/31), Prince Genji, Ryutei Tanehiko [柳亭種彦] (Japanese, 1783 – 1842)
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)
Engraver	Koizumi Minokichi [小泉巳の吉] (Japanes, fl. c. 1850s)
Publisher	Kyū (Japanese, c. 1851 – 1861), Unknown
Publishing year	1853, Kaei 6
Acquisition year	2019

Collection

Japanese prints and drawings