Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III). Assembly of Celebrated Joys / Fan print, 1851-52.

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

Signed: Toyokuni ga (豊國画) in a red toshidama cartouche

Censor seal: Kinugasa (衣笠) & Murata (村田), sealed together from 1/1851 to 1/1852

Publisher: Iseya Sōemon [伊勢屋惣右衛門] (Japanese, 1776 – 1862); seal: hanmoto ue (板元上)

Media: Aiban yoko-e uchiwa-e (団扇絵), color woodblock print, 229 x 296 mm

No date seal.

Title (in red cartouche, top right: Mei yoroko no awase [名喜之合] — possible translations: Gathering of Famous Pleasures, or Assembly of Celebrated Joys.

A woman is depicted in half-length, facing right, with her mouth modestly covered by her raised right sleeve. She wears a deep purple kimono decorated with spiderwebs and large butterflies—some rendered in fine detail, while others appear worn or damaged, with yellow wings mottled by black spots. A red under-kimono is visible beneath, along with a blue collar featuring a repeating saya-gata (紗綾形) lattice pattern.

Scrolls tied with blue ribbon are tucked beneath her left arm. Her red obi is adorned with gold cloud motifs and blue floral designs, possibly peonies. Her hair is styled in the taka-shimada fashion and is fastened with a simple white cord (shiro ito), without kanzashi or additional ornamentation. Behind her is a low bamboo fence. The background presents large blooming chrysanthemums (菊, kiku) and what may be roses or peonies, set against a sky that transitions in gradient from blue to purple.

[With special thanks to Horst Graebner of Kunisada Project].

Provenance: René Scholten (Dutch, 1943 – 2001)