Woodblock Print Item Number: 795/25 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Three vertically rectangular prints mounted together as a series, creating a long horizontally rectangular panel. Images of two men and a woman in a house with a blue and yellow background. The woman is on the left side leaning her right hand that is resting on an outer pillar as she looks back. She is wearing clothing that has a purple diamond shape pattern on a white background lined with a white circle pattern on a red background with a blue floral patterned belt. The man in the middle has his left foot extended forward while his right knee is bent backward. He is rolling up his right sleeve with his left hand. His clothing has a vertical white and brown striped pattern. The man on the right side has his right foot forward while his left foot is to the side, creating an L-shape. He is holding up the hem of his clothing with his right hand while his left arm is extended out toward the side. His clothing has a white cloud and bat pattern on a black background. Black Japanese writing at the bottom right of each print are the artist’s signatures, with red circular seals; the black circular seals are censor seals; the black rectangular seals are the publisher/printer.
Narrative
This triptych or sanmai tuzuki (三枚続) from the artist's Kabuki plays is signed with two different signatures with Kōchōrō Toyokuni ga (香蝶楼豊國画) (on the right and left) and Ichiyōsai Toyokuni ga(一陽斎豊國画) in the middle. All the signatures are with red circle seals known as toshidama-in (年玉印). The black circular seals are a censor seal, known as aratame-in (改印) or kiwame-in (極印). The black rectangular seals are the publisher/printer Taihei at Ryōgoku (両国太平版).
Item History
- Made by Kunisada Utagawa (Maker) in Japan during 1850
- Owned by Anne M. Smith before May 6, 1982
- Received from Anne M. Smith (Donor) on May 6, 1982
What
- Name
- Woodblock Print
- Identification Number
- 795/25
- Type of Item
- Overall
- height 35.6 cm, width 75.7 cm
Who
- Culture
- Japanese
- Creator
- Kunisada Utagawa (Maker)
- Previous Owner
- Anne M. Smith
- Received from
- Anne M. Smith (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Japan
When
- Creation Date
- during 1850
- Ownership Date
- before May 6, 1982
- Acquisition Date
- on May 6, 1982
Other
- Item Classes
- works on paper
- Condition
- fair
- Accession Number
- 0795/0025