This is a mid-19th century Edo Period print by the Japanese woodblock artist Utagawa Kunisada (also known as Toyokuni III) . It is titled: Chapter 20, Asagao (The Bluebell). from the series The Colour Print Contest of a Modern Genji.
The print shows a Japanese lady dressed in a pale pink kimono. She is seated on a floor cushion next to a low table. She reads from a scroll as she hands a short sword (wakizashi) to Mitsuuji (the Genji). The sword has been wrapped in a golden edged ornate fabric. Mitsuuji wears a grey-blue kimono that bears his crest of crossed cloves. Behind him there is a large bright blue folding screen decorated with summer flowers and insects. Almost hidden behind the screen is a square based lamp stand with a pink shade.
In the Edo Period, Ryutei Tanehiko adapted this ancient The Tale of Genji into a picture book called ‘The Rustic Genji,’ thereby attracting more people to the work. It had illustrations by Kunisada. Each print illustrates a scene from a chapter in Murasaki's Tale. Wonderful views of court life and travel during various seasons are documented with charming detail in the elegant clothing and settings.
The images were all created for the smaller chuban size and the series comprises of 54 designs, each corresponding to a chapter of the renowned Genji novel (originally ). The series includes a title and a back page. While the individual prints lack the series title, it is found on the cover page, indicating that the series may have been originally published as an album.
My woodblock print is in the vertical chuban format and the image size measures 17 x 24.5 cm. It has been given a new fresh museum quality window mount (but sold unframed so you can inspect the back of the print outside of a frame). This measures 28 x 29.5 cm. I have taken lots of images for your inspection.
An impression of this print is in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, USA. I have listed my one at a fair price.
It will be sent to you with Royal Mail Tracked and Signed for (Medium Parcel) post. This will be applied to your order at the checkout.