Description
Rare woodblock printed illustration depicting a young woman, most likely the apprentice courtesan Itohana (新造糸花), intent on disassembling a shamisen (三味線) lute.
The work is taken from the second volume “Earth” (地) of the erotic shunpon (春本) “Umegonomi neya no utsuriga” (梅好閨乃伝染香), that is “Lingering Plum Scent in the Sleeping Chamber”, made in 1841 by the artist Utagawa Kunisada (歌川国貞), who signs himself with the pseudonym Matabei (又平), in collaboration with the writers Iroha Chinbo (いろは陳房), author of the preface, and Kino Ikiyasu (紀行安), also author of the verses visible in the upper part of the work.
The print on Japanese washi paper (和紙), despite the right signs of aging, is in overall good condition.
