Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III). Courtesan playing a kokyū, from the series 'Assortments of Beauties Accomplishments', 1829.

Artist

Accession Number: SVJP-0352.2021

Category: Pictures

A young woman playing a four-string musical instrument with a bow (kokyū).

Series: Assortments of Beauties Accomplishments [美人芸盡] (Bijin gei-zukushi).

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

Signed: Kochoro Kunisada ga [香蝶楼国貞画] in a red double gourd cartouche.

Publisher: Ibaya Kyūbei [伊場屋久兵衛] (Japanese, 1804 – 1851); seal: Hanmoto, Kyū [板元久] (Marks 19-040 | 126e)

Date seal: Bunsei 12 (1829).

Censors' seal: Kiwame.

Size: Fan print (uchiwa-e).

Collection	Japanese prints and drawings
Country	Japan
Period	19 AD , Bunsei era [文政] (1818–1830) , Edo period [江戸時代] (1603–1868) , Mid-19th century
Media/Technique	Ink and color on paper , Woodblock print (nishiki-e)
Creation / Publishing year	1829 , Bunsei 12
Subject	Beautiful woman (bijin-ga) , Beauty , Music , Musical instruments
Signature	Censor seal: Kiwame , Date seal , Publisher's seal
Size	Fan print. Uchiwa-e
Acquisition year	2021