Utagawa Kuniyoshi (歌川国芳) (artist 11/15/1797 – 03/05/1861)
Wakamurasaki (若紫): No. 5, Lavender from the series Ukiyo-e Parallels for the Cloudy Chapters of the Tale of Genji (Genji kumo ukiyoe awase - 源氏雲浮世絵合)
ca 1845 – 1846
10 in x 14.5 in (Overall dimensions) Japanese woodblock print
Signed: Ichiyūsai Kuniyoshi ga
一勇斎国芳画
Artist's seal: kiri
Publisher: Iseya Ichiemon
(Marks 143 - seal 24-068)
Censor's seal: Mura
British Museum
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Tokyo Metropolitan Library
Museum für angewandte Kunst, Vienna
National Diet Library
Lyon Collection - another print from this series
Keio University Library The curatorial files at the British Museum says of this print series: "Each of the fifty-four chapters of The Tale of Genji is named and is associated with a crest called a 'Genji-mon'. In this series, each of the first fifty-four prints portray various scenes from history, legend, and literature that are suggested by a specific chapter of the novel and the appropriate Genji-mon is shown in the upper left cartouche with a poem. This series consists of one design for each of the fifty-four chapters and six supplementary designs."
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The explanatory text on the print right below the scroll is by Hanagasa (花笠外史).
The text on the scroll reads: 若紫 手につみていつしかも見んむらさきのねにかよひける野辺の若草
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There are two prints from this series in the Lyon Collection.
Iseya Ichiemon (伊勢屋市右衛門) (publisher)
mitate-e (見立て絵) (genre)
Genji related prints (Genji-e - 源氏絵) (genre)