Kunisada 国貞: Beauty with Fan and girl holding a ring of lantern plants (hozoki) 操珠数ハ世捨人の手引ぐさ

Artist: Utagawa Kunisada 国貞 ()1786-1865)

Title: 操珠数ハ世捨人の手引ぐさ

Series: 教訓植附垣根ノ中 Moral Instructions Grown in a Hedge  Date: ca. 1845

A beauty with a simplified hairstyle and layers of elaborate kimono looks down at a young girl, who holds up a ring of hozuki ground cherries (lantern plants) in her hand. The woman might be visiting Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa during the hozuki-ichi festival that is held on the 9th and 10th of July each year. Her outer robe features designs of flying phoenix against a background of layers of unusual blue colors. The ring of lantern plants obviously brings to mind the round beads of a Buddhist prayer rosary. At the upper left is an inset cartouche with flowers and some famous lines of text. The title may read “Saying the Rosary is the Way of Hermits”. 

Condition: Excellent impression and color; very good condition.  Fold along left margin. 

Dimensions: ôban (35 x 24.8 cm)  Publisher: Kimuraya Shigezo
Signature: ...Toyokuni ga

SKU: KUS584