Kunisada: Hachiman Shrine in Fukagawa; Woman Unpacking her Shamisen

Artist: Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865)
Title: Hachiman shrine in Fukagawa

Series: One Hundred Beautiful Women at Famous Places in Edo 江戸名所百人美女 Edo Meisho Hyakunin Bijjo  Date: 1857

A finely dressed beauty carefully unpacks her shamisen, the plectrum held between her teeth. We may assume she is an entertainer, perhaps a geisha, who may be entertaining a group as part of a festival at the Hachiman shrine. The annual Fukagawa Hachiman Festival is held in mid-August, and is considered one of the three great festivals of Edo. It is still celebrated today, and over fifty mikoshi (portable shrines) are carried through the streets, and celebrants joyfully throw water on the mikoshi as they pass by. The inset scene of the torii at night is by Kunihisa.

Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition.  Untrimmed; no backing.
Dimensions: ôban (36.8 x 24.8 cm) Publisher: Yamaguchiya Tobei
Signature: Toyokuni ga

SKU: KUS568