Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III). Moon over Matsuchiyama / Fan print, 1853.

Artist

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

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)

Engraver/Block Cutter

Unknown

Publisher

Iseya Sōemon [伊勢屋惣右衛門] (Japanese, publisher, fl. c. 1776–1862)

Accession Number: SVJP-0530.2026

Category: Pictures

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.

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) , 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