Utagawa Kunisada (歌川国貞) / Toyokuni III (三代豊国) (artist 1786 – 01/12/1865)
A diptych from the series Lingering Sentiments of a Late Collection of Genji (Genji goshū yojō - 源氏後集余情): the two women represent Chapter 17, E-awase (The Picture Contest - 絵合)
02/1858
19.25 in x 14.2 in (Overall dimensions) color woodblock prints
Signed: Toyokuni ga (豊国画)
Publisher: Sakanaya Eikichi
(Marks 442 - seal 24-007)
Carver: Yokogawa Takejirō
Censor seal: aratame
Date: 2/1858
National Diet Library - left panel
National Diet Library - right panel
National Diet Library - left panel
Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts
Ritsumeikan University - left panel
Ritsumeikan University - right panel
Waseda University Library - earlier model for the figure on the right
Waseda University Library - earlier model for the figure on the left
The British Museum
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
National Museums of Scotland - right-hand panel
National Museums of Scotland - left-hand panel
Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen (Rijksmuseum Volkenkunde, Leiden) via Ritsumeikan University - the right-hand panel only
Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen (Rijksmuseum Volkenkunde, Leiden) via Ritsumeikan University - the left-hand panel only
Hokkaido Museum of Art
Amgueddfa Cymru (National Museum of Wales) - left hand sheet only The title of this series, Lingering Sentiments of a Late Collection of Genji (Genji goshū yojō), is actually a pun on The Fifty-four Chapters of the Tale of Genji (Genji gojūyojō).
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The British Museum owns a copy but does not illustrate it online. However, the curatorial files at state: "Fourth in a group of 38 diptychs plus one frontispiece comprising all the known designs from the series Genji goshū yojō (Lasting Impressions of a Late Genji Collection; 1857-61). Based on the serialized novel Nise Murasaki inaka Genji (A Country Genji by a Fake Murasaki; chapters 1-38, published 1829-42) by Ryutei Tanehiko, and its sequel Sono yukari hina no omokage (A Related Rustic Visage; chapters 39-61, published1847-64) by Tanehiko's followers. Both novels illustrated by Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III)."
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The diptych is illustrated and listed in Genji‘s World in Japanese Woodblock Prints by Andreas Marks, pp. 142-3.
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There is an earlier gōkan cover from the original edition from 1830-42 of the Nise Murasaki... showing both women, but signed 'Kunisada'. (See the links above.)
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There are copies of both of these prints in the Rijksmuseum voor Volkenkunde, Leiden. Notice the octopus in the basket on the head of the woman on the left.
Genji related prints (Genji-e - 源氏絵) (genre)
Sakanaya Eikichi (魚屋栄吉) (publisher)
Yokokawa Takejirō (横川彫武) (carver)