Series title: Genji goshū yojō (源氏後集余情) Lasting impressions of a late Genji collection
Chapter: 23 – left sheet square cartouche – referencing in this instance the book ‘A Rustic Genji’ (Nise Murasaki Inaka Genji) Chapter 23 (1837) – the source of inspiration for this diptych
Title: Hatsune – right sheet square cartouche – this is chapter twenty three in Murasaki Shikibu’s book ‘The Tale of Genji’ Genji Monogatari (源氏物語)
Description: At his Saga residence, Ashikaga Mitsuuji (left sheet) tells Murasaki (right sheet) about his affair with Asagiri, and she turns sullen and refuses to play the koto that he offers
Artist: Toyokuni III (Kunisada)
Siganature: Toyokuni ga
Date: 1858, 2nd month
Censor: NA
Publisher: Hayashiya Shōgorō (林屋庄五郎) ca 1845 – 1863
Block cutter: NA
Size: Oban diptych, each sheet 36.7 cm x 25.2 cm
Condition: Very good impression, good colour, and very good condition
Look for: As with all the prints in this series, it is printed on thick paper, and in this print you will see; over-printing, Bokashi (gradation), Karazuri (embossing or blind printing)and Nunomezuri (cloth-texture embossing) printing techniques
Price: USD 550
References: Genji’s World in Japanese Woodblock Prints; Andreas Marks p145