310 - Utagawa Kunisada/Toyokuni III (1786–1864)

Utagawa Kunisada/Toyokuni III (1786–1864) Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō (a series created jointly by Hiroshige, Kunisada, and Kuniyoshi) Station No. 42: Miya: The Tumulus of the Returned Ghost An intriguing composition by Kunisada illustrating the legend of Hangonzuka in Miya: the tragic return of a warrior who discovers that his wife, Fuji, has died of grief. Thanks to a monk’s incense ritual, Fuji’s spirit emerges from the black smoke, dressed in a magnificent kimono adorned with spiderweb and butterfly motifs. The upper cartouche contains the complete account of this spectral apparition. Woodblock print Signed: “Oju Toyokuni ga” on the right side of the print Period: Edo (1845/46 (Koka 2–3)) Seal: round nanushi Publisher: Enshuya Matabei Format: Oban tate-e Fresh colors. Small binding holes in the right margin Left margin slightly trimmed Slight soiling.