Kunisada’s Kisokaidō Actor Series · Wada Station · Maizuru, Sister of Asahina, from the Soga Plays · - Japan - Edo Period (1600-1868)
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An original Edo-period woodblock print by Utagawa Kunisada, dated 1852, depicting Maizuru at Wada Station in the Kisokaidō actor series.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Artist: Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) 歌川国貞 (三代豊国) (1786–1865)
Series: Kisokaidō rokujūkyū eki 木曽六十九驛 (The Sixty-nine Stations of the Kisokaidō)
Title: Wada, Hato no mine — Maizuru 和田 鳩の峯 舞鶴
Publisher: Enshūya Hikobei 遠州屋彦兵衛 (seal 遠彦)
Date: 1852 (Kaei 5), 11th month — date seal 子十一 (Rat 11) with censor seals Mera and Watanabe
Signature: Toyokuni ga 豊国画, in toshidama cartouche
Technique: Woodblock print (nishiki-e), ink and colour on paper
Format: Ōban tate-e, approx. 37 × 25 cm
__________________________________________________________
CONDITION
The impression and colours are very good. The paper has two folds, one vertical and one horizontal. There are 4 professional repairs on the print. Please check the images carefully! This item is sold as antique.!
__________________________________________________________
About the print
In 1852 Kunisada brought the Kisokaidō, the inland highway between Edo and Kyoto through the mountains of central Japan, onto the kabuki stage. In this series each post station is paired with a role from the theatre. The link is usually made through a pun, a place name or an association from a well-known play, and the station itself is reduced to a landscape background behind a large actor portrait.
Wada was one of the highest stations on the road, the last stop before the climb over Wada Pass, which travellers feared as one of the hardest crossings of the Kisokaidō. Kunisada links it to the stage through the name Wada itself. In the Soga revenge plays, the most popular repertoire of the Edo New Year season, Maizuru is the sister of the strongman Asahina Saburō. Both are children of Wada Yoshimori, the Kamakura-period warrior whose clan was destroyed in the Wada rebellion of 1213. Maizuru is one of kabuki’s rare heroic female roles, sometimes played in place of her brother in the famous confrontation scene of Kotobuki Soga no taimen.
Kunisada was the leading print designer of his day. By the 1850s he was by far the most productive artist of the Utagawa school, and his actor series of this period were produced in great numbers for an eager theatre public.
Seller's Story
I've been collecting Japanese woodblock prints for quite a while now — everything from classic ukiyo-e to shin-hanga and sōsaku-hanga. What started as a personal passion eventually turned into something more, and these days I source prints from auctions, galleries, and private collections across Japan and Europe.
With growing worldwide interest in Japanese woodblock prints, gallery prices have been climbing steadily. My goal is simple: offer high-quality, authentic prints at reasonable prices. I'm picky about what I sell — I look for pieces that have been stored properly, kept flat, and are free from serious foxing, stains, or damage.
I'm based in Germany, which means EU buyers won't deal with any import duties or taxes. For US buyers, original artworks under HS code 9702 are duty-free as well. And wherever you are, I pack everything carefully with multiple layers of protection so your print arrives safely.
If you have questions about a piece, just reach out. You will get access to contact me once you've won an item from my lots.
Artist: Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) 歌川国貞 (三代豊国) (1786–1865)
Series: Kisokaidō rokujūkyū eki 木曽六十九驛 (The Sixty-nine Stations of the Kisokaidō)
Title: Wada, Hato no mine — Maizuru 和田 鳩の峯 舞鶴
Publisher: Enshūya Hikobei 遠州屋彦兵衛 (seal 遠彦)
Date: 1852 (Kaei 5), 11th month — date seal 子十一 (Rat 11) with censor seals Mera and Watanabe
Signature: Toyokuni ga 豊国画, in toshidama cartouche
Technique: Woodblock print (nishiki-e), ink and colour on paper
Format: Ōban tate-e, approx. 37 × 25 cm
__________________________________________________________
CONDITION
The impression and colours are very good. The paper has two folds, one vertical and one horizontal. There are 4 professional repairs on the print. Please check the images carefully! This item is sold as antique.!
__________________________________________________________
About the print
In 1852 Kunisada brought the Kisokaidō, the inland highway between Edo and Kyoto through the mountains of central Japan, onto the kabuki stage. In this series each post station is paired with a role from the theatre. The link is usually made through a pun, a place name or an association from a well-known play, and the station itself is reduced to a landscape background behind a large actor portrait.
Wada was one of the highest stations on the road, the last stop before the climb over Wada Pass, which travellers feared as one of the hardest crossings of the Kisokaidō. Kunisada links it to the stage through the name Wada itself. In the Soga revenge plays, the most popular repertoire of the Edo New Year season, Maizuru is the sister of the strongman Asahina Saburō. Both are children of Wada Yoshimori, the Kamakura-period warrior whose clan was destroyed in the Wada rebellion of 1213. Maizuru is one of kabuki’s rare heroic female roles, sometimes played in place of her brother in the famous confrontation scene of Kotobuki Soga no taimen.
Kunisada was the leading print designer of his day. By the 1850s he was by far the most productive artist of the Utagawa school, and his actor series of this period were produced in great numbers for an eager theatre public.
Seller's Story
I've been collecting Japanese woodblock prints for quite a while now — everything from classic ukiyo-e to shin-hanga and sōsaku-hanga. What started as a personal passion eventually turned into something more, and these days I source prints from auctions, galleries, and private collections across Japan and Europe.
With growing worldwide interest in Japanese woodblock prints, gallery prices have been climbing steadily. My goal is simple: offer high-quality, authentic prints at reasonable prices. I'm picky about what I sell — I look for pieces that have been stored properly, kept flat, and are free from serious foxing, stains, or damage.
I'm based in Germany, which means EU buyers won't deal with any import duties or taxes. For US buyers, original artworks under HS code 9702 are duty-free as well. And wherever you are, I pack everything carefully with multiple layers of protection so your print arrives safely.
If you have questions about a piece, just reach out. You will get access to contact me once you've won an item from my lots.
Details
Dynastic Style/Period
Edo Period (1600-1868)
Country of Origin
Japan
Attribution
Original
Title of artwork
Kunisada’s Kisokaidō Actor Series · Wada Station · Maizuru, Sister of Asahina, from the Soga Plays ·
Condition
Fair condition
Provenance
Private collection
Authenticity
Original/official
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