Kunisada: Three Beauties Relax in a Garden Next to a Stream

Artist: Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865)
Series Title: An Eastern Genji in Edo Purple (Edomurasaki azuma Genji)

Date: 1840-42

Three elegant beauties relax amidst a perfectly landscaped garden setting. The long furisode sleeves of the young woman at right sway noticeably in the breeze. In the middle, a women removes the jacket of a boy who plays with a toy cart, while the woman at left sits on a low bench, her foot casually tucked up and a fan with the Genji symbol tucked into her obi. A climbing vine at left must reference the famous Yugao chapter. In the background a sparkling stream meanders by against scenes of footpaths and a teahouse set amidst rolling hills. This series of three triptychs seem to be the earliest example of bijin ga with a reference to the Edo version of the blockbuster “Rustic Genji” serial novel. It is interesting to note that there is no sign of the Genji character himself; the only reference is the inclusion of a single Genji incense sign on the fan at left. The poem at top has actually been translated as the following:

“Oh, the coolness of the sleeves that I shake, with the dangling fan. I sway the fan to smell the scent in the wind of the yugao flowers on the eaves. Umenoya” (translation by Nishimura Masato). The kimono worn by the three women are fantastic, with no detail spared in depicting every intricate aspect of their outfits. Beautifully printed.

Condition: Excellent impression and color; very good condition. Some trimming and crease along left edges.  Dimensions: ôban triptych (each sheet 35 cm x 25 cm)
Publisher: Tsuruya Kiemon

References: See figure 2, page 13 of “Genji’s World in Japanese Woodblock Prints” by Andreas Marks, 2013.  Signature: Kôchôrô Kunisada ga

SKU: KUS585