Series title: Genji goshū yojō (源氏後集余情) Lasting impressions of a late Genji collection
Chapter: 6 – left sheet square cartouche – referencing in this instance the book ‘A Rustic Genji’ (Nise Murasaki Inaka Genji) Chapter 6 (1832) combination of two ‘cover’ images – the source of inspiration for this diptych
Title: Wakamurasaki (若紫) – right sheet square cartouche – this is chapter 5 in Murasaki Shikibu’s book ‘The Tale of Genji’ Genji Monogatari (源氏物語)
Description: Young Murasaki (right sheet) turns from making origami toys to admire a new toy that Mitsuuji (left sheet) has brought as a gift
Artist: Toyokuni III (Kunisada)
Siganature: Toyokuni ga
Date seal: 1858, 11th month
Censor: Aratame seal: Literally “examined”; a character found in many censor seals. According to some research “In 1858, the aratame seal was dropped, and the oval date seal appears alone.” Given the date of this print this would appear to be incorrect or an anomaly
Publisher: Hayashiya Shōgorō (林屋庄五郎) ca 1845 – 1863
Block cutter: Yokogawa Takejiro
Size: Oban diptych, each sheet 36.7 cm x 25.2 cm
Condition: Very good impression, good colour – some fading, and very good condition.
Look for: As with all the good 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), nunomezuri (textile-weave printing) ,Tsuyazuri – specifically shomenzuri (burnishing) printing techniques
Price: USD 550
References: Genji’s World in Japanese Woodblock Prints ; Andreas Marks p138