Utagawa Toyokuni III (Kunisada) — Sono Sugata Murasaki no Utsushie, No. 12 — Genji (Hikaru Genji) - Paper - Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865) - Japan - Late Edo period
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Selected by Giovanni Bottero
Holds a master’s in Japanese art history with over 10 years’ expertise in Asian art.
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Utagawa Toyokuni III (Kunisada) print from Sono Sugata Murasaki no Utsushie, No. 12 Genji (Hikaru Genji), a late Edo period Edo woodblock on paper, 25.5 × 37.2 cm, Japan, original attribution, private collection, in fair condition.
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Description from the seller
Utagawa Toyokuni III (Kunisada) — Sono Sugata Murasaki no Utsushie, No. 12 — Genji (Hikaru Genji) Scene — Edo woodblock print, c. 1850s
Description
A refined composition by Utagawa Toyokuni III (Kunisada) from the series
“Sono Sugata Murasaki no Utsushie” (“Pictures in the Murasaki Style”), dating from around the 1850s.
This print represents a Genji-style scene, with the central figure depicted as Hikaru Genji, the iconic protagonist of The Tale of Genji.
Set under brilliant autumn foliage overlooking a distant coastline, the work shows Hikaru Genji standing gracefully on the veranda, attended by two elegantly dressed ladies.
Their poised gestures and richly patterned garments evoke the elegant courtly atmosphere characteristic of Heian-period literature as reinterpreted through Edo sensibilities.
Kunisada’s mastery is evident in the delicate expressions, the luxurious textile patterns, and the spatial depth created by the architectural setting and landscape.
The combination of autumn leaves and ocean view adds a serene, poetic quality to the composition.
A vivid, well-preserved impression—highly recommended for collectors of Genji-e, bijin prints, and literary-themed ukiyo-e.
Artist Biography
Utagawa Toyokuni III (Kunisada, 1786–1865)
One of the most influential ukiyo-e masters of the late Edo period and a central figure of the Utagawa school.
Renowned for his actor portraits, bijin prints, and literary-themed compositions, Kunisada shaped much of Edo’s visual culture.
His works are prized for their expressive characters, dynamic elegance, and richly decorated costumes, and remain highly sought after by collectors worldwide.
After payment is confirmed, the item will be delivered to you within 10 to 14 days.
Please note that any VAT or import duties charged by your country’s customs will be the responsibility of the buyer.
Thank you for bidding with this understanding.
Your winning item will be carefully packed and shipped via EMS to ensure safe delivery.
Seller's Story
Gallery SOBIAN (奏美庵) is a Kyoto–based gallery specializing in Japanese ukiyoe prints, woodblock prints, modern prints, and carefully selected works of contemporary art.
Our focus is on presenting pieces where traditional technique and modern sensibility quietly meet—a harmony that reflects the unique depth of Japanese aesthetics.
Our mission is to share the beauty of Japan with the world through art.
Not in a grand or dramatic way, but in the way Japanese beauty naturally reveals itself: through subtlety, atmosphere, and the quiet presence that lives within each work.
We have welcomed many international collectors who value authenticity and refined minimalism.
They often tell us that our pieces “do not need many words”—and this reflects our philosophy as well.
True beauty speaks in silence.
Every artwork on CATAWIKI is personally selected by the owner, whose sensibility has been shaped through years of engaging with both traditional prints and contemporary artistic expression.
We offer works that stand at the intersection of history, craft, and modern aesthetic clarity.
Through these curated selections, Gallery SOBIAN seeks to connect people around the world with the essence of Japanese culture, one artwork at a time.
It is our hope that each piece will become a quiet companion, enriching the life and space of its new owner.
“To carry the beauty of Japan to the world, through carefully chosen works.”
Utagawa Toyokuni III (Kunisada) — Sono Sugata Murasaki no Utsushie, No. 12 — Genji (Hikaru Genji) Scene — Edo woodblock print, c. 1850s
Description
A refined composition by Utagawa Toyokuni III (Kunisada) from the series
“Sono Sugata Murasaki no Utsushie” (“Pictures in the Murasaki Style”), dating from around the 1850s.
This print represents a Genji-style scene, with the central figure depicted as Hikaru Genji, the iconic protagonist of The Tale of Genji.
Set under brilliant autumn foliage overlooking a distant coastline, the work shows Hikaru Genji standing gracefully on the veranda, attended by two elegantly dressed ladies.
Their poised gestures and richly patterned garments evoke the elegant courtly atmosphere characteristic of Heian-period literature as reinterpreted through Edo sensibilities.
Kunisada’s mastery is evident in the delicate expressions, the luxurious textile patterns, and the spatial depth created by the architectural setting and landscape.
The combination of autumn leaves and ocean view adds a serene, poetic quality to the composition.
A vivid, well-preserved impression—highly recommended for collectors of Genji-e, bijin prints, and literary-themed ukiyo-e.
Artist Biography
Utagawa Toyokuni III (Kunisada, 1786–1865)
One of the most influential ukiyo-e masters of the late Edo period and a central figure of the Utagawa school.
Renowned for his actor portraits, bijin prints, and literary-themed compositions, Kunisada shaped much of Edo’s visual culture.
His works are prized for their expressive characters, dynamic elegance, and richly decorated costumes, and remain highly sought after by collectors worldwide.
After payment is confirmed, the item will be delivered to you within 10 to 14 days.
Please note that any VAT or import duties charged by your country’s customs will be the responsibility of the buyer.
Thank you for bidding with this understanding.
Your winning item will be carefully packed and shipped via EMS to ensure safe delivery.
Seller's Story
Gallery SOBIAN (奏美庵) is a Kyoto–based gallery specializing in Japanese ukiyoe prints, woodblock prints, modern prints, and carefully selected works of contemporary art.
Our focus is on presenting pieces where traditional technique and modern sensibility quietly meet—a harmony that reflects the unique depth of Japanese aesthetics.
Our mission is to share the beauty of Japan with the world through art.
Not in a grand or dramatic way, but in the way Japanese beauty naturally reveals itself: through subtlety, atmosphere, and the quiet presence that lives within each work.
We have welcomed many international collectors who value authenticity and refined minimalism.
They often tell us that our pieces “do not need many words”—and this reflects our philosophy as well.
True beauty speaks in silence.
Every artwork on CATAWIKI is personally selected by the owner, whose sensibility has been shaped through years of engaging with both traditional prints and contemporary artistic expression.
We offer works that stand at the intersection of history, craft, and modern aesthetic clarity.
Through these curated selections, Gallery SOBIAN seeks to connect people around the world with the essence of Japanese culture, one artwork at a time.
It is our hope that each piece will become a quiet companion, enriching the life and space of its new owner.
“To carry the beauty of Japan to the world, through carefully chosen works.”
Details
Dynastic Style/Period
Late Edo period
No. of items
1
Artist
Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865)
Country of Origin
Japan
Attribution
Original
Material
Paper
Height
25.5 cm
Width
37.2 cm
Title of artwork
Utagawa Toyokuni III (Kunisada) — Sono Sugata Murasaki no Utsushie, No. 12 — Genji (Hikaru Genji)
Condition
Fair condition
Provenance
Private collection
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