A half-length portrait of a woman seated in an interior, winding red thread, dressed in a richly decorated kimono featuring intricate floral motifs in blue, green, and brown hues with a red underlayer. Her elaborately styled hair is adorned with a yellow comb and multiple hairpins. To her left is a partially visible wooden chest of drawers, to which a piece of red paper bearing calligraphy is affixed. A puppet or doll dressed in a patterned kimono with a striking red-painted face rests on her lap or a surface before her.

An uncut fan print (aiban yoko-e uchiwa-e) entitled “Good tailoring” or “Good sewing [仕立ものよし] (shitate monoyoshi)” from the series “It’s an Auspicious Day to…” [最上吉日つくし] (Saijō [no] kichijitsu tsukushi).

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

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi giga (一勇斎 國芳戯画, playfully drawn by Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi).

Publisher: Enshūya Matabei [遠州屋又兵衛] (Enterprise, active c. 1768 – 1881); seal: “to” (ト) under roof (Marks 01-031 | 057a).

Nanushi seal Watari (渡) for Watanabe Shōemon, VI/1842-V 1c/1846.

Media: Fan print (uchiwa-e, 団扇絵), 224 x 290 mm.

Reference:

(1) Kuniyoshi project; (2) Tokyo Museum Digital Archive

[Thanks to Horst Greabner]