Utagawa Kunisada (歌川国貞) / Toyokuni III (三代豊国) (artist 1786 – 01/12/1865)
The Eleventh Month (Iwaizuki - 祝月) from the series The Twelve Months (Jūnika tsuki no uchi - 十二かつきの内)
1851
10 in x 14 in (Overall dimensions) color woodblock print
Signed: Toyokuni ga (豊国画)
Publisher: Minatoya Kohei (Marks 332 - seal 24-074)
Censor seals: Mera and Watanabe
Ukiyoe ni kiku
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Waseda University
Tokyo Metropolitan Library
Art Institute of Chicago - 1786 print by Shunkō I with a mention of the 11th month
The Genji mon or crest in the upper right in light blue appears to be closest to Chapter 35 (Wakana no ge or 'New Herbs', part two) of the traditional tale.
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The man in this print is the Inaka Genji. The woman may represent Asagao who is studying to become a nun or has become one. As she is reading a Buddhist text, a sutra, she is handing Genji the valued sword.
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There seems to be a great deal of confusion over the naming of the months in this series. The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston state in their curatorial comments online:
The term Iwaizuki (Month of Worship) usually refers to the first month; but since the series already includes a design for that month under the name Mutsuki, it seems that Iwaizuki is being used here as an alternative for Kagurazuki (Month of Sacred Dance), the eleventh month.
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There is a print by Shunkō I in the Art Institute of Chicago based on the name of the eleventh month mentioned in a joruri play. It was first performed on the first day of the 11th month of 1786. See the link above for more information.
Minatoya Kohei (湊屋小兵衛) (publisher)
Genji related prints (Genji-e - 源氏絵) (genre)