Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) (side a) (Japanese, 1786–1865). <em>Double-sided Key Block for Ukiyo-e Print</em>, ca. 1830. Cherry wood, 15 1/2 x 10 1/8 x 3/8 in. (39.4 x 25.7 x 1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Dr. Alvin E. Friedman-Kien, 2002.119.15a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2002.119.15a_PS20.jpg)

Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) (side a) (Japanese, 1786–1865). Double-sided Key Block for Ukiyo-e Print, ca. 1830. Cherry wood, 15 1/2 x 10 1/8 x 3/8 in. (39.4 x 25.7 x 1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Dr. Alvin E. Friedman-Kien, 2002.119.15a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2002.119.15a_PS20.jpg)

DOWNLOAD

Double-sided Key Block for Ukiyo-e Print

Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) (side a), Eisen Keisai (side b)

Asian Art

This carving served as the key block, the first one made by the carver, based on Kunisada’s original drawing. It provides the basic outlines of the design. The key block was used to make a number of simple black impressions that served as guides for the carving of all subsequent blocks. The print made by this carving was the mirror image of what we see here, so all of the text on the block is in reverse. This block is actually signed by its carver, Asai Ginjirō (1844–1894). There was no general policy with regard to carvers signing their work, but such signatures are definitely in the minority.

ARTISTS Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) (side a), Japanese, 1786–1865; Eisen Keisai (side b), Japanese, 1790–1848

MEDIUM Cherry wood

Place Made: Japan

DATES ca. 1830

PERIOD Edo Period

DIMENSIONS 15 1/2 x 10 1/8 x 3/8 in. (39.4 x 25.7 x 1 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Asian Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 2002.119.15a-b

CREDIT LINE Gift of Dr. Alvin E. Friedman-Kien

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Side a: Toyokuni III (Kunisada) Three Women Musicians On a Balcony. A woodblock for ukiyo-e print of an autumn scene of women playing shamisen and biwa (musical instruments) with an attendant who carries tray with tea cup. Condition: Very good. Wood is stained black from ink used in printing. Side b: Keisai 18 Tokyo cuisine style dishes. (Tokyo ryori jyuuhachi sakana) Name of place: Sumiyoshi cho… (incomplete) The other name of place: Honya bakuro (bakuro) four Carver's name: Cho-ei Keyblock for outline of ukiyo-e print showing two women in a restaurant, holding papers in their hands. Condition: Few tiny breaks in outline. Old break (stable) at upper left.

EXHIBITIONS

Utagawa: Masters of the Japanese Print, 1770–1900

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) (side a) (Japanese, 1786–1865). Double-sided Key Block for Ukiyo-e Print, ca. 1830. Cherry wood, 15 1/2 x 10 1/8 x 3/8 in. (39.4 x 25.7 x 1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Dr. Alvin E. Friedman-Kien, 2002.119.15a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2002.119.15a_PS20.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 2002.119.15a_PS20.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2023

"CUR" at the beginning of an image file name means that the image was created by a curatorial staff member. These study images may be digital point-and-shoot photographs, when we don\'t yet have high-quality studio photography, or they may be scans of older negatives, slides, or photographic prints, providing historical documentation of the object.

RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

You may download and use Brooklyn Museum images of this three-dimensional work in accordance with a Creative Commons license. Fair use, as understood under the United States Copyright Act, may also apply. Please include caption information from this page and credit the Brooklyn Museum. If you need a high resolution file, please fill out our online application form (charges apply). For further information about copyright, we recommend resources at the United States Library of Congress, Cornell University, Copyright and Cultural Institutions: Guidelines for U.S. Libraries, Archives, and Museums, and Copyright Watch. For more information about the Museum's rights project, including how rights types are assigned, please see our blog posts on copyright. If you have any information regarding this work and rights to it, please contact copyright@brooklynmuseum.org.

RECORD COMPLETENESS

Not every record you will find here is complete. More information is available for some works than for others, and some entries have been updated more recently. Records are frequently reviewed and revised, and we welcome any additional information you might have.