UTAGAWA TOYOKUNI III (1786 – 1865), UTAGAWA KUNIYOSHI (1798 – 1861), UTAGAWA KUNISADA II (1823 – 1880)

Edo period, 1854; 1848; 1852

Three Japanese woodblock print triptychs, oban tate-e, the first by Utagawa Toyokuni III (1786 - 1865), an image from the Twelve Month series, The Seventh Month: Waiting for the Moon (Fumizuki: Nijurokuya machi) published by Tsutaya Kichizo, depicting three finely dressed ladies enjoy sake and seasonal snacks of crabs and tofu on a veranda with a view over Shinagawa Bay in Edo on the twenty-sixth day of the seventh month, awaiting the moon to appear in the dark sky, the second by Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798 – 1861) titled First sunrise of the year at Sumida River (Sumidagawa hatsuhi no zu), published by Ebiya Rinnosuke, signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi-ga, the third by Utagawa Kunisada II (Kunimasa III, Toyokuni IV) (1823 – 1880) titled Snow (Yuki), from the series Moon, Snow, and Flowers (Getsusetsuka no uchi), published by Yamamotoya Heikichi (Eikyûdô), signed Ichijusai Kunisada ga (on right and left sheets), Baichôrô Kunisada ga (on the centre sheet), each unmounted

36cm high, 25cm long; 35cm high, 25cm long; 35.5cm high, 24.5cm long (9)

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PROVENANCE:

English Private Collection, purchased at Christie's London

An impression of the third print in the collection of MFA Boston, acc no 11.38749a-c.