A half-length portrait of a woman seated in an interior, winding red thread, dressed in a richly decorated kimono featuring intricate floral motifs in blue, green, and brown hues with a red underlayer. Her elaborately styled hair is adorned with a yellow comb and multiple hairpins. To her left is a partially visible wooden chest of drawers, to which a piece of red paper bearing calligraphy is affixed. A puppet or doll dressed in a patterned kimono with a striking red-painted face rests on her lap or a surface before her.
An uncut fan print (aiban yoko-e uchiwa-e) entitled “Good tailoring” or “Good sewing [仕立ものよし] (shitate monoyoshi)” from the series "It’s an Auspicious Day to…" [最上吉日つくし] (Saijō [no] kichijitsu tsukushi).
Artist: Utagawa Kuniyoshi [歌川 國芳] (Japanese, 1798 – 1861).
Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi giga (一勇斎 國芳戯画, playfully drawn by Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi).
Publisher: Enshūya Matabei [遠州屋又兵衛] (Enterprise, active c. 1768 – 1881); seal: "to" (ト) under roof (Marks 01-031 | 057a).
Nanushi seal Watari (渡) for Watanabe Shōemon, VI/1842-V 1c/1846.
Media: Fan print (uchiwa-e, 団扇絵), 224 x 290 mm.
Reference:
(1) Kuniyoshi project; (2) Tokyo Museum Digital Archive
[Thanks to Horst Greabner]
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 | Aiban yoko-e uchiwa-e , Fan print. Uchiwa-e |
| Subject | 19th century , Beautiful woman (bijin-ga) , Fan , Fan print , Japan , Japanese art , Japanese woodblock prints , Pastimes |
| Series | It’s an Auspicious Day to… [最上吉日つくし] (Saijō [no] kichijitsu tsukushi) |
| Creation / Publishing year | 1842 , 1843 , 1844 , 1845 , 1846 |
| Acquisition year | 2025 |
