Kuniyoshi 国芳: Beauty with Chrysanthemum Robe and Stone from Toyoshima Quarry Scene

Artist: Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798-1861) Title: Stone from Toyoshima in the province of Sanuki (Sanuki Teshima seki, 讃岐豊島右) Series: Celebrated Products of Mountains and Seas 山海目出度圖會 Sankai medetai zue Date: 1852 A beauty dressed to impress in a brilliant red kimono decorated with chrysanthemums seems to be cheerfully departing on an outing. She has a sheaf of paper and a small decorated packet tucked into her robe, and is perhaps turning back to say farewell as she sets out. Her hair has a single large gold-leaf ornament, and the edges of her robe have a deep embossing. In this interesting series Kuniyoshi features portraits of women paired with a provincial product that is shown in the inset cartouche. Here we see quarry workers digging slabs of stone from a quarry using only chisels and mallets; this scene was designed by one of Kuniyoshi’s students, who has signed it at upper right. The printing and freshness of this work is exceptional–but for the minor binding holes at left, it feels