Kunisada • 三十六歌仙のパロディから • 日本木版画 - Japan - Edo Period (1600-1868)
03
days
03
hours
19
minutes
50
seconds
 | €3 | |
|---|---|---|
 | €1 |
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 139556 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
Original Edo-period Japanese woodblock print by Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III), From a Parody of the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets, Ōban tate-e, ca. 36 × 24 cm, full-colour Nishiki-e, published by Iseya Kanekichi in 1852, in fair condition.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Artist: Utagawa Kunisada / Toyokuni III (歌川国貞・三代豊国, 1786–1865)
Series: Mitate Sanjūrokkasen no uchi 見立三十六歌撰之内 — "From a Parody of the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets"
Poet: Sōjō Henjō 僧正遍照 (816–890), named in the poem cartouche
Role: 光秀妻さつき — Satsuki, wife of Mitsuhide, played by the onnagata Onoe Kikujirō II (per the Honolulu Museum of Art record; the actor is not named on the sheet)
Format: Ōban tate-e, single sheet, ca. 36 × 24.5 cm
Technique: Nishiki-e (full-colour woodblock print)
Date: Kaei 5 (1852) — two nanushi censor seals with date seal at lower right
Publisher: Iseya Kanekichi 伊勢屋兼吉 (Isekane)
Carver: Horitake 彫竹, in the yellow seal beside the signature
Signature: 豊国画 Toyokuni ga in the red toshidama cartouche
----------------------------------------------------------------
Condition
Colour and impression are fairly well preserved. The paper, however, shows a number of issues including toning and creasing, with minor remnants of backing on the verso. Fair condition overall. Please refer to the images for full detail.
----------------------------------------------------------
About the print
Kunisada's mitate series pair a classical poem with a kabuki figure who has nothing obvious to do with it — the pleasure lies in working out the connection. Here the link is hair.
The poem in the cartouche is Sōjō Henjō's, written on the day he took the tonsure:
Tarachine wa / kakare tote shi mo / mubatama no / waga kurokami o / nadezu ya arikemu
"Surely my mother, when she stroked my jet-black hair, never stroked it wishing for this."
The poem is preserved in the Gosen Wakashū, and the sense is that his mother can hardly have caressed his hair as a child intending that it would one day be shaved off. Henjō — the courtier Yoshimine no Munesada before he took orders — was a celebrated young nobleman who renounced the world at thirty-five on the death of Emperor Ninmyō, and the verse dates from the moment of his shaving.
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: Mitate Sanjūrokkasen no uchi 見立三十六歌撰之内 — "From a Parody of the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets"
Poet: Sōjō Henjō 僧正遍照 (816–890), named in the poem cartouche
Role: 光秀妻さつき — Satsuki, wife of Mitsuhide, played by the onnagata Onoe Kikujirō II (per the Honolulu Museum of Art record; the actor is not named on the sheet)
Format: Ōban tate-e, single sheet, ca. 36 × 24.5 cm
Technique: Nishiki-e (full-colour woodblock print)
Date: Kaei 5 (1852) — two nanushi censor seals with date seal at lower right
Publisher: Iseya Kanekichi 伊勢屋兼吉 (Isekane)
Carver: Horitake 彫竹, in the yellow seal beside the signature
Signature: 豊国画 Toyokuni ga in the red toshidama cartouche
----------------------------------------------------------------
Condition
Colour and impression are fairly well preserved. The paper, however, shows a number of issues including toning and creasing, with minor remnants of backing on the verso. Fair condition overall. Please refer to the images for full detail.
----------------------------------------------------------
About the print
Kunisada's mitate series pair a classical poem with a kabuki figure who has nothing obvious to do with it — the pleasure lies in working out the connection. Here the link is hair.
The poem in the cartouche is Sōjō Henjō's, written on the day he took the tonsure:
Tarachine wa / kakare tote shi mo / mubatama no / waga kurokami o / nadezu ya arikemu
"Surely my mother, when she stroked my jet-black hair, never stroked it wishing for this."
The poem is preserved in the Gosen Wakashū, and the sense is that his mother can hardly have caressed his hair as a child intending that it would one day be shaved off. Henjō — the courtier Yoshimine no Munesada before he took orders — was a celebrated young nobleman who renounced the world at thirty-five on the death of Emperor Ninmyō, and the verse dates from the moment of his shaving.
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
王朝様式/時代
Edo Period (1600-1868)
アイテム数
1
原産国
Japan
帰属
Original
高さ
36 cm
幅
24 cm
作品タイトル
Kunisada • From a Parody of the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets • Japanese Woodblock Print
コンディション
Fair condition
来歴
Private collection
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
