Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III)

1786-1865

A Pictorial Commentary on One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets: no. 18, Fujiwara no Toshiyuki Ason
(Hyakunin isshu esho: ujiwara no Toshiyuki Ason)

signed Kunisada aratame Nidai Toyokuni ga (Kunisada changing his name to Toyokuni II) with his Toshidama seal, censor's seal Tanaka, followed by the publisher's seal Sanoki (Sanoya Kihei of Kikakudo), ca. 1844

oban tate-e 14 1/4 by 10 in., 36.2 by 25.5 cm

An infant crawls at the hem of a standing beauty pulling open her kimono at her chest as she cups her full breast. A poem by Fujiwara no Toshiyuki Ason is presented as the front and back of the poem card:

upper card (front):
Suminoe no
kishi ni yoru nami
yoru sahe ya
lower card (back):

yume no kayohi-jhi
hitome yokuran

Must you so avoid others' eyes
that not even at night,
along the road of dreams,
will you draw nigh like the waves
to the shore of Sumi-no-e Bay?

Reference:
Joshua S. Mostow, The Hundred Poets Compared, 2007, p. 70 , no. 18 (poem translation)
(inv. no. 10-5243)

price: $950