Utagawa Kunisada (歌川国貞) / Toyokuni III (三代豊国) (artist 1786 – 01/12/1865)
Oiran accompanied by her two kamuro
06/1859
Signed: Toyokuni ga (豊国画)
Publisher: Daikokuya Heikichi
(Marks 029 - seal 22-094)
Carver: Horikō Masa (彫工政)
Combined censor and date seal: aratame and 6/1859
This is probably one panel of a multi-paneled composition.
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The courtesans elaborate kimono is decorated with a lion and peonies. This is similar to another print of a high ranking prostitute in the Lyon Collection, an Eizan print, produced approximately fifty years earlier. See #731.
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According to the Japan Arts Council web site the carver Horikō Masa (彫工政) is the same person as Matsushima Hori Masu (松嶋彫政). See Lyon Collection #1397.
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One commercial web site online identified this figure as Wakamurasaki of the Tamaya House, but with no corroborative proof.
Daikokuya Heikichi (大黒屋平吉) (publisher)
beautiful woman picture (bijin-ga - 美人画) (genre)