Utagawa Kuniyoshi. Young woman with a shamisen, from the series Collection of charming music (Enkyoku zoroi) / Fan print, 1853.

Artist: Utagawa Kuniyoshi [歌川國芳] (Japanese, 1798 – 1861)

Publisher: British Museum provides for the title as Enkyoku-zoroi [艶曲揃] (Set of Voluptuous Melodies) and the publisher as Sanpei. Indeed, 三平 (Sanpei) was a wholesale fan shop at the end of the Edo period. However, Andreas Marks identifies the publisher’s seal as 三平 Mihei = Mikawaya Heiroku (1848-56), a member of the Fan Producing Guild (AM 11-016|325a).

Block carver: Yokokawa Takejirō, seal: Carver Taki [彫竹] (Hori Take)

Signed: Ichiyosai Kuniyoshi ga in a red cartouche and sealed with paulownia (kiri mon).

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

Size: Uchiwa-e (untrimmed fan print) 296 x 230 mm.

SVJP-0303.2019

SVJP-0251.2018

British Museum # 2008,3037.22006

Collection	Japanese prints and drawings
Type or purpose	Fan, Woodblock print
Country	Japan
Period	19 AD, Edo Period (1603 – 1868), Kaei [嘉永] (1848 – 1854), Mid-19th century
Media	Ink and color on paper, Woodblock print (nishiki-e)
Subject	Beauty, Bijinga, Musical instruments, Shamisen (三味線)
Size	Fan print. Uchiwa-e
School	Utagawa (歌川)
Artist	Utagawa Kuniyoshi [歌川國芳] (Japanese, 1798 – 1861)
Engraver	Yokokawa Takejiro (Japanese, fl. 1845 – 1863)
Publisher	Mikawaya Heiroku [三川屋平六] (Japanese, fl. c. 1848 – 1856), Sanpei [三平]
Publishing year	1853, Kaei 6
Series	Collection of charming music (Enkyoku zoroi)
Acquisition year	2019

Collection

Japanese prints and drawings