Kunisada: 5-Panel Print of Pleasure Quarters (Sold)
Artist: Utagawa Kunisada
Title: 5-Panel Print of Pleasure Quarters
Date: ca. 1813
A Panorama of the Second Floor of a Brothel (Seirô nikai no zu goban tsuzuki). A fascinating, literal window into a hidden world unfolds in this very scarce 5-panel work. As Izzard explains in “Kunisada’s World”, we see a vivid glimpse into life in a Yoshiwara brothel using isometric perspective. On the far right panel are two guests, one with the garb of a monk, being led down the corridor by male servants from a neighboring teahouse. One carries a lantern with the Toshidama crest of the Utagawa school, while the other bears a tray of food. Accompanying them are a geisha with a hand drum and another geisha and a courtesan, who are climbing the stairs from the first floor. The courtesan is looking back to check on her kamuro and shinzo. On either side of the hallway we se stacked water buckets, a precaution against fire. Instead of “In case of fire”, the covers bear the names of the publisher and a pseudonym of Kunisada, Gepparô. At the very top right we see a man with his hand on his head, apparently befuddled by drink, who is being escorted back into the room of a courtesan, who waits reclined on her bedding, a maid bearing a tray of food. He is probably just returning from a lavatory visit. Lower right we see a gentleman holding a cup and looking up at a shinzô, who blushes. At the door of these quarters a kamuro (child attendant) announces the arrival of her mistress, an oiran decked in finery who is shown heading towards the room, about to pass a manservant carrying trays. The oiran is followed by another attendant, and a man bearing a large tray with sea bream and other prepared foods. Outside of the room are stacked dishes and tea/sake servingware. Above this procession we see the large room of a high-ranking courtesan, with expensive laquer trays stacked in one corner. We see her conversing with her attendant, and we see a male entertainer and a man playing a shamisen, but the guest is unseen. Proceeding left, we see an unkempt courtesan fixing her hair and holding her tissues in her teeth. Perhaps she has just finished an assignation in her very small room. In the middle panel we see a very large room, with a seated customer with the features of Sawamura Sôjûrô IV, weated and holding a long pipe. A child is reading beside him, and an attendant is seen opening a storage drawer and one is pouring a beverage. A cloth in the corner of this room bears the publisher’s mark. To the right of this room we see two screens surrounding a courtesan, who is presumably entertaining a guest. Her shinzo naps nearby, probably waiting for the encounter to end. Upper left we see a rather unhappy scene, which Kunisada has unvarnishedly included here. We see an unhappy woman who is partially dressed, struggling with an older matron who holds her leg and a male servant who is trying to restrain her. She pulls his hair. A young attendant grasps her arm. A blind masseur waits in the corner, holding a preparation in his hand. We someone coming towards the room holding a bowl and a packet; perhaps this is food and medicine to calm her? The cause of this distress may be the gentleman who is frowning and looking back, holding a toothpick. He is also barely dressed, and is being escorted away by two attendant women. At the far left we see two black-robed men, one being held by the arm by a young attendant. In the foreground left are more peaceful scenes, with a courtesan reading a love letter, with two ladies nearby. Next to them we see a singer and a shamisen player practicing music. Izzard wonders if one of these men might be Tokyokuni I, his teacher. This unhappy man passes what looks like a front desk, with poster and an andon, and nearby we see an account book, with the Toshidama seal adorning it. The lantern next to this bears the name and address of the publisher.
Condition: Good impression, color and condition.
Dimensions: 5-panel ôban
Publisher: Eijudô (Nishimura Yohachi)
Literature: See “Kunisada’s World” (1993) by Sebastian Izzard, cat. #11, page 58.
Seal: Sada
Signature: Gototei Kunisada ga
SKU: KUS381