KAWA WATASE: CROSSING THE RIVER: A Japanese Bijin [Beauty] Wearing An Elaborate

TOYOKUNI, Utagawa III [= UTAGAWA Kunisada I: 1786-1864]

About this Item

[Edo ca. 1850-56]. Large Oban color woodblock print, 25.6 x 36.8 cm., excellent image, registry & color, mended corners, & couple of pin holes, usual minor surface soiling, scuffing & a touch of typical toning, else a very strong image. RARE . *** **** *** . . A STUNNING BIJIN [JAPANESE BEAUTY] IN ELABORATE KIMONO . . . WITH A YOUNG BOY CARRYING ZOORI [SANDALS] . . . THEY PREPARE FOR KAWA-WATASHI [CROSS THE RIVER] . . * Typical to Toyokuni III style, this print depicts a stunning Japanese beauty wearing an elaborate silk Kimono. She is accompanied by a young boy, who carries three pairs of Zoori [sandals]. They are both bare-footed. This work is an excellent depiction of typical Edo period people and costume. . *** THE ARTIST: . UTAGAWA TOYOKUNI III was actually KUNISADA Tsuroda I [1786- -1864], who used some sixteen various "Go" [studio names] in his career. He was an Ukiyo-e painter, printmaker, who lived & worked in Edo. At age 15, he was a pupil of Toyokuni, eventually taking his master's name, then Kunisada. In 1807 he produced his first book illustrations, in 1808 he began to make actor prints. In 1833 he studied under Hanabusa Ikkei taking the Kohchoroh. In 1844 he took Toyokuni name, in 1854 he retired and called himself Shohzoh. Per Roberts: ".his landscape prints quite fine." See more biography in Roberts & Lane below. . *** CENSOR. PUBLISHER & CARVER SEALS: At the left lower corner is the Toyokuni III signature in a red cartouche, with the 5 gold balls at the right corner, adjacent to which is the carver's seal. Above this are two Kiwame [censor's] date and permission seals. At the far right is the publisher's seal. . *** Color photos are posted to our website. . *** CONDITION: This print has a very strong image, with excellent impression, registry & color. With verso mends to the corners & a couple of tiny mended pin holes. With some of the usual & typical minor surface soiling, scuffing & toning. Else a very fine example of Kunisada's block-signed work. . Ready for matting, framing & display. . *** BIBLIOGRAPHY: . ROBERTS, Laurance P.: A DICTIONARY OF JAPANESE ARTISTS: PAINTING, SCULPTURE, CERAMICS, PRINTS, LACQUER, pp.96-97 * LANE, Richard.: IMAGES FROM THE FLOATING WORLD: THE JAPANESE PRINT INCLUDING AN ILLUSTRATED DICTIONARY OF UKIYO-E, pp.295-296, plates 516-522; pp. 186-187 & plate 189 . *.

Seller Inventory # 39051701

Bibliographic Details

• Title: KAWA WATASE: CROSSING THE RIVER: A Japanese Bijin [Beauty] Wearing An Elaborate
• Seller catalogs:
  • WOODBLOCK REFERENCES
  • WOMEN IN JAPAN
  • CHINA SOCIAL SCIENCE