Series title: Genji goshū yojō (源氏後集余情) Lasting impressions of a late Genji collection
Chapter: 38 – right sheet square cartouche – referencing in this instance the book ‘A Rustic Genji’ (Nise Murasaki Inaka Genji) Chapter 38 (1842) – the source of inspiration for this diptych
Title: Suzumushi (鈴虫) – right sheet square cartouche – this is chapter thirty eight in Murasaki Shikibu’s book ‘The Tale of Genji’ Genji Monogatari (源氏物語)
Description: Murasaki (right sheet) dries off after a bath as Mitsuuji (left sheet) holds a tenmoku tea bowl
Artist: Toyokuni III (Kunisada)
Siganature: Toyokuni ga
Date: 1861, 6th month
Censor: NA
Publisher: Wakasaya Yoichi (若狹屋与市), ca 1794 – 1897
Block cutter: NA
Size: Oban diptych, each sheet 36.7 cm x 25.2 cm
Condition: Fine impression, colour and 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, gauffrage or blind printing) and Nikawa-zuri (glue-enriched printing) printing techniques
Price: USD 650
References: Genji’s World in Japanese Woodblock Prints; Andreas Marks p:148