| Artist: | Utagawa Kunisada [歌川国貞], a.k.a. Utagawa Toyokuni III [三代歌川豊国] (Japanese, 1786–1865) |
| Publisher: | No publisher seal, no date, or censor seal |
| Signed: | Kunisada ga [国貞画], in a red double-gourd cartouche |
| Media: | Untrimmed fan print (uchiwa-e), 231 × 294 mm, with the use of mica and black lacquer |
Description: Bust-length portrait of a young woman shown in three-quarter view facing right, depicted while blackening her teeth (ohaguro, お歯黒 / 歯黒) using a small brush held to her lips. Her hair is arranged in a formal shimada-style coiffure, secured with hairpins, a ribbon, and a tortoiseshell comb. One hairpin is ornamented with a small, roofed pleasure boat motif, alluding to river travel and access to the pleasure quarters. She wears a patterned kimono with geometric and floral (wisteria) elements, loosely arranged to expose the upper shoulder and neck. The practice of ohaguro was not limited to married women and was also observed among courtesans.
See also Young woman with exposed shoulder [SVJP-0529.2026]. Based on this comparison, the publisher may be attributed to Ibaya Sensaburō [伊場屋仙三郎].
Additional Information
| Collection | Fan print (Uchiwa-e) [団扇絵] , Japanese prints and drawings |
|---|---|
| Type / Purpose | Fan , Woodblock print |
| Period | 19 AD , 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 | Beauty Prints (Bijin-ga, 美人画) |
| Subject | Beautiful woman (bijin-ga) , Fan , Fan print , Uchiwa-e , Woman |
| School | Utagawa (歌川) |
| Creation / Publishing year | 1830s |
| Signature | Artist's seal |
| Acquisition year | 2022 |
Related Items
SVJP-0486.2025
Utagawa Kunisada. Woman with a hand towel / Fan print, 1826.
SVJP-0531.2026
Utagawa Kunisada. Woman with koto picks / Fan print, 1826.
