藝者「辰巳八景ノ内」
One of the most prominent and commercially successful designer of ukiyo-e woodblock prints of 19th Century Japan (Edo Period in Japan), Utagawa Kunisada 1786-1864 (歌川 国貞/Toyokuni III), created this woodblock print in the 1830s. Utagawa Kunisada was a highly respected artist and a master of Japanese woodblock print. In his lifetime, he produced between 20,000 to 25,000 designs for woodblock prints. He had his own distinct style that suited the public taste and developed overtime. Most of his works are full of vibrant colors with one man/woman in the center. Although a majority of his works were kabuki and actor prints (60% of his works), he depicted several works of women in the latests fashions. In this particular woodblock print, a geisha from Fukagawa is the depicted as a woman in fashion. In his other works with geishas, the backgrounds are beautiful landscapes or nature: cherry blossoms, mountains, trees, snow, etc., but in this one, the geisha is indoor as she is not wearing any footwear. Also, in many of his works, the geishas were dressed in vibrant, glamorous kimonos with plenty of accessories; however, this geisha is wearing a rather dull kimono. There is a subtitle attached with the work in blue pictures and white boxes, which probably spells out the woman’s name (it hasn’t been deciphered to English).
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