Kunisada 国貞: Seated Beauty Cuddling a Happy Cat

Artist: Utagawa Kunisada 歌川国貞 (1786-1864)
Title: Restaurant Nabegin in Ôsaka-chô (大坂町　なべぎん) Series: A Collection of Famous Restaurants of Modern Times (Tōji kōmei kaiseki zukushi) (当時高名会席尽)
Date: Ca. 1822

A beauty, seated with her knees up, cuddles a cat close to her in a most alluring way. The cat seems almost hypnotized by the affection, its posture one of entranced delight and its collar hanging loosely, echoing the relaxed pose. In the cartouche, we see the entrance to the Restaurant Nabegin 鍋銀 in Osaka-cho, located in the old Yoshiwara area. The woman has pulled her hands inwards from her sleeves, and wraps the kitty with a warm embrace, holding him tightly to her chest with both hands. Such spontaneous intimacy would perhaps create envious thoughts in male viewers of the time of trading places with the cat. The beauty wears her hair in a simple chignon with a red band and a single comb and hairpin. Her kimono features a red komon pattern and covers her bent legs; a long sleeveless coat in purple with a black collar runs down from her shoulder; a black tie behind–all the clothing flows down beautifully onto tatami floor. In front of the opening of kimono a part of her foot peeps out underneath layers of kimono and a glimpse of her red-under-kimono. The scene conveys very cozy, intimate atmosphere.

According to The Ukiyoe Jiten (encyclopedia by Yoshida Eiji, 1972) this series contains about 30 works, all published by Yamaguchi-ya. Different from Hiroshige’s series “Collection of Famous Restaurants in Edo 江戸高名会亭尽, this series has beauties in the center of the composition and in a koma-e (cartouche) the picture, name and place of the restaurants. The series is considered to be quite influential, depicting each geisha with characteristics of the places. This series inspired other artists such as Yoshiiku, Yoshitoshi, and Kunichika, who followed with their similar series. From Kunisada’s finest artistic period. Scarce.

Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition; mint. As perfect as a 200-year-old print can be.
Dimensions: ôban 38 x 25.7 cm  Publisher: Yamaguchi Tobei
Literature: There is an inferior example in the Hiraki Ukiyo-e collection.
Signature: Gototei Kunisada ga 五渡亭国貞画

SKU: KUS599