Artist: Utagawa Kunimaru [歌川国丸] (Japanese, 1794–1829)
Signed: 國丸筆 (Kunimaru hitsu)
Publisher: Ibaya Sensaburō [伊場屋仙三郎] (Japanese, 1815–1869), firm name Dansendō [團扇堂]; seal: character 三 (san, “three”) in a circle; Marks 08-067 | 127b
Censor Seal: 1827 (Bunsei 10, [亥] Year of the Boar) + kiwame seal
Media: Fan print (uchiwa-e); woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and colour on paper; 222 × 292 mm
Description:
Fan-shaped composition of seasonal flowers, including morning glory, hydrangea, narcissus, lily, peony, chrysanthemum, bellflower, and iris, densely arranged in a naturalistic bouquet against a pale yellow background. The elegant arrangement showcases a variety of botanical forms and textures rendered in soft yet vibrant Edo-period pigments, with delicate shading and detail typical of Kunimaru’s floral works.
Provenance:
– Collector’s stamp of Renate Beck to the verso
– Formerly in the collection of René Scholten (Dutch, 1943–2001)
Botanical Subjects in the Design:
| English Name | Japanese Name (Kanji) | Japanese Name (Romaji) | Latin Botanical Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morning Glory | 朝顔 | Asagao | Ipomoea nil |
| Chinese Bellflower (Balloon Flower) | 桔梗 | Kikyō | Platycodon grandiflorus |
| Hydrangea | 紫陽花 | Ajisai | Hydrangea macrophylla |
| Narcissus | 水仙 | Suisen | Narcissus tazetta |
| Lily | 百合 | Yuri | Lilium spp. |
| Peony | 牡丹 | Botan | Paeonia lactiflora |
| Chrysanthemum | 菊 | Kiku | Chrysanthemum morifolium |
| Iris | 菖蒲 | Shōbu | Iris ensata (or Iris japonica) |
Additional Information
| Collection | Fan print (Uchiwa-e) [団扇絵] , Japanese prints and drawings |
|---|---|
| Type / Purpose | Fan , Woodblock print |
| Period | 19 AD , Bunsei era [文政] (1818–1830) , Edo period [江戸時代] (1603–1868) , Mid-19th century |
| Country | Japan |
| Media/Technique | Ink and color on paper , Woodblock print (nishiki-e) |
| Size | Fan print. Uchiwa-e |
| Genre | Nature Prints (Shizen-ga, 自然画) |
| Subject | Chrysanthemum (kiku) , Flowers , Hydrangea , Iris , Lily , Morning glory , Narcissus , Peony |
| School | Utagawa (歌川) |
| Creation / Publishing year | 1827 , Bunsei 10 |
| Acquisition year | 2025 |
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SVJP-0525.2025
Irises / Fan print, late 19th century.
SVJP-0486.2025