Kunisada: Tenjin Shrine: Tea Stall Waitress

Artist: Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865)
Title: Tenjin Shrine 天神 Tea Stand Waitress

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 tea stall waitress seems to be giving direction, perhaps pointing out visitors who need to be served to another staff member. She holds a lacquer tray in her hand and has a tea towel tucked into her obi. Behind her we see storage racks for teabowls and a sieve setup for filtering tea. In the inset is a scene of Tenjin Shrine, which must be where this tea stand is located. Located on the eastern bank of the Sumida River, this was an extremely popular shrine in the Edo period, and Hokusai and Hiroshige brought it even wider renown with their famous images of its environs.

Condition: Very good impression, color and condition. Minor spot on left.
Dimensions: ôban (36.7 x 24.8 cm)
Signature: Toyokuni ga

SKU: KUS562