JAPANESE PRINTS

A MILLION QUESTIONS

TWO MILLION MYSTERIES

 

Ukiyo-e Prints

浮世絵版画

Port Townsend, Washington

 

UTAGAWA KUNISADA
川国貞
うたがわくにさだ
1786-1864
Series Title: Modern Views of Summer
Tōsei natsu geshiki
當世夏景色
とうせいなつけしき
Print Title: Morning Glory (?)
Asagao
朝顔
あさがお
Date: Ca. 1826
Signed: Gototei Kunisada ga
Publisher: Matsumura Tatsuemon
 松村辰衛門
 まつむら.たつえもん

SOLD

 

 

 

 

There are five prints in this series. Three of them are illustrated in color in Kunisada's World by Sebastian Izzard on pages 102 and 103. Each of those examples shows the kiwame censor's seal immediately above the publisher's mark. Our print lacks the kiwame. Nonetheless, there are many other similarities. For example, each of the prints shows naturalistic hairpins with dangling beaded attachments. Like the hairpin seen on this page the prints entitled "The Ground Cherries" and "The Mosquito-Net Vendor" have their accessories casually looped back over the pin. For me this is the detailed touch which gives this print its most approachable feature. Everyone has different tastes, but for me this and the overall look is the epitome of beauty in Japanese woodblocks.

 

 

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