Page 99 - Christies Japanese and Korean Art Sept 22 2020 NYC

74
KITAGAWA UTAMARO (1754-1806)
Niwaka no ni geisha (Two geisha at the Niwaka festival)
Woodblock print, signed Utamaro hitsu, published by Tsuruya
Kiemon (Senkakudo), circa 1797, framed and glazed
Vertical oban: 14 x 9¡ in. (35.6 x 23.8 cm.)
$5,000-8,000

This is from the same series of eight known designs depicting half-
length portraits of two figures, as "Parody of Ushiwakamaru and
Princess Joruri" (Lot 72). In the present design, two geisha (thought
to be called Haru and Kume - indicated by the characters on their
kimono) are shown at the Niwaka festival. See Shugo Asano and
Timothy Clark,The Passionate Art of Kitagawa Utamaro, Exhibition
Catalogue, (British Museum, London, 1995), text for cat. no. 263,
p. 182.

75
UTAGAWA TOYOKUNI (1769-1825)
Chojiya uchi Hinatsuru (The courtesan Hinatsuru of the
Choji-ya house)
Woodblock print, from the series Bijin nana Komachi (Beauties of the
seven Komachi), signed Toyokuni ga, published by Izumiya Ichibei
(Kansendo), circa 1793-97
Vertical oban: 15¿ x 10 in. (38.4 x 25.4 cm.)
$8,000-10,000

The courtesan Hinatsuru of the Choji-ya house is elegantly dressed
in a kimono decorated with fallen maple leaves and pine needles.
She sits holding a pipe next to a lacquer stand supporting a bird
in a cage. Beneath is a pile of books, writing brushes and a vase
of peacock feathers. Other designs from the same series are in the
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, accession nos. 21.6939, 21.6940,
21.6938 and 21.6941.