Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III). Moon over Matsuchiyama / Fan print, 1853.
Censor
Fukushima Giemon [福島儀右衛門; seal: Fuku, 福] (Japanese, censor, fl. 1849–1853) Muramatsu Genroku [村松元禄] (Japanese, censor, fl. 1843–1853)
Fukushima Giemon [福島儀右衛門; seal: Fuku, 福] (Japanese, censor, fl. 1849–1853) Muramatsu Genroku [村松元禄] (Japanese, censor, fl. 1843–1853)
| 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 |
| Date: | 2/1853 (Kaei 6, 2nd month) — Zodiac Ox 2 (ushi ni; 丑弍) |
| Censors: | Fuku [福]; Muramatsu [村松], i.e. Fukushima Giemon [福島儀右衛門] and Muramatsu Genroku [村松元禄] |
| Publisher: | Iseya Sōemon [伊勢屋惣右衛門] (Japanese, c. 1776–1862); seal hanmoto ue [板元上] |
| Media: | Aiban yoko-e uchiwa-e (団扇絵), colour woodblock print, 222 × 290 mm |
| Title: | Moon over Matsuchiyama [真乳山の月] Matsuchiyama no tsuki |
Description: Bust-length portrait of a young woman shown in three-quarter view to the right. Her hair is arranged in a formal shimada-style coiffure, secured with a comb, a ribbon, and hairpins, including a gold hairpin ornamented with a rabbit (兎, usagi). She wears a patterned kimono decorated with brown foliage motifs, tied with a red obi (帯). In her right hand, she holds a rigid fan (uchiwa, 団扇) decorated with an owl (梟, fukurō) perched on a branch. Night scene with a full moon (月, tsuki) above the Sumida River (隅田川, Sumida-gawa); boats on the water and the riverbanks below, with Matsuchiyama (真乳山) visible in the background. Gradation (bokashi, ぼかし) in the sky and water. Phonetically, fukurō could be read auspiciously as 不苦労 (“no hardship”); a rabbit on a hairpin reinforces the lunar theme.
| 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) , Kaei era [嘉永] (1848–1854) , Mid-19th century |
| Country | Japan |
| Media/Technique | Ink and color on paper , Woodblock print (nishiki-e) |
| Size | Aiban yoko-e uchiwa-e , Fan print. Uchiwa-e |
| Genre | Beauty Prints (Bijin-ga, 美人画) , Famous place prints (Meisho-e, 名所絵) |
| Subject | Beautiful woman (bijin-ga) , Beauty , Fan , Fan print , Full moon , Japan , Japanese woodblock prints , Moon , Owl , Uchiwa-e , Woman , Young woman , rabbit (usagi) |
| School | Utagawa (歌川) |
| Signature | Toyokuni ga [豊国画] |
| Creation / Publishing year | 1853 , Kaei 6 |
| Acquisition year | 2026 |