Antique Japanese Original Woodblock Print Triptych by Kunisada -Housecleaning with Genji- c. Presented is a beautiful Japanese full oban-size woodblock print – diptych- created by the renowned artist of the late Edo period, Utagawa Kunisada (1786 – 1864), also known as Kunisada I and Toyokuni III. This print is a triptych – a three-sheet print called “Housecleaning with Prince Genji” – Chapter 37 from the series “Nise Murasaki Inaka Genji” (False Murasaki Rustic Genji). It depicts three women doing housecleaning. Or, rather, one woman is doing the cleaning, and the other two are not exactly involved. The one that is cleaning is not a servant – she is of the same rank as the other two – so maybe there is a conflict. Most likely, it is the Oosoji, the Big Cleaning that the Japanese do before the New Year. The man looking at them through the window is Mitsuji, aka “Rustic Genji”, the main character in the book “Nise Murasaki Inaka Genji”. In 1825, Ryutei Tanehiko began a serial novel called “Nise Murasaki Inaka Genji” (The false Murasaki and the Rustic Genji), which follows the storyline of the original novel “The Tale of Genji” by Lady Murasaki Shikibu (978 -1014). However,’The Rustic Genji is set in the 15th century, and the love affairs of Prince Genji take place in the licensed quarters, rather than at court as in the original novel. The popularity of “The Rustic Genji” inspired many prints and series of prints. Many artists designed comparable prints associating courtesans with different chapters of “The Tale of Genji”. This print features Mitsuji – the Rustic Genji watching three ladies doing housecleaning that corresponds to Chapter 37 of “False Murasaki Rustic Genji”, The artist created the most beautiful clothes for the group with colorful overcoats and kimonos. They all wear tabi – the traditional Japanese split-toe socks. And the background wall is decorated with Genji-mons – the Genji crests used by Murasaki to mark the 54 chapters of the original “Tale of Genji”. The print was made using the Japanese woodblock technique in 1847 during Kunisada’s lifetime. All three sheets of the triptych are signed with Kunisada II’s signature (Kunisada ga and Kunisada hitsu) and stamped with the publisher’s seal of Yamamatoya Heikichi (Eikyudo). AUTHOR: Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III) PUBLISHER: Yamamatoya Heikichi (Eikyudo) TITLE: “Housecleaning with Prince Genji” (descriptive) SERIES: “False Murasaki Rustic Genji” (Nise Murasaki inaka Genji) PAPER. The condition is good. Good detail and colors, some toning and soiling of the paper, especially on Genji’s face. The prints are backed with washi paper. Please see the photos for the detailed conditions. Get images that make Supersized seem small. Track Page Views With.
