Series title: Genji goshū yojō (源氏後集余情) Lasting impressions of a late Genji collection
Chapter: 5 – left sheet square cartouche – referencing in this instance the book ‘A Rustic Genji’ (Nise Murasaki Inaka Genji) Volume 5 – from which this image is derived.
Title: Yūgao (夕顔) – right sheet square cartouche – this would be chapter four in Murasaki Shikibu’s book ‘The Tale of Genji’ Genji Monogatari (源氏物語)
Description: Ashikaga Mitsuuji taking leave of his new lover Tasogare while holding a sword. The sword may allude to the missing sword, an imperial treasure stolen by Tasogare’s mother Shinonome. In the book A Rustic Genji, Tasogare is tying paper to a single pillow, in this print she is tying two.
Artist: Toyokuni III (Kunisada)
Siganature: Toyokuni ga
Date: 1858, 2nd month
Censor: NA
Publisher: Sakanaya Eikichi (魚屋栄吉) can also be referred to as Uoya Eikichi
Block cutter: Yokogawa Takejiro
Size: Oban diptych,
Condition: Very good impression, good colour – some fading, 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),Tsuyazuri – specifically shomenzuri (burnishing) printing techniques.
Price: USD 550
References: Genji’s World in Japanese Woodblock Prints ; Andreas Marks p138