Utagawa Kunisada woodblock print, Man with Boy in Armor, Meiji Taishō Early Shōwa Miniature, ca. 1900–1935

Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) — Genji, Meiji–Taishō–Early Shōwa
Original woodblock print, miniature edition, ca. 1900–1935
From the series Nise Murasaki Inaka Genji (偐紫田舎源氏, “The False Murasaki’s Rustic Genji”)

This miniature Japanese woodblock print reproduces Utagawa Kunisada’s (1786–1865) celebrated illustrations for Ryūtei Tanehiko’s Nise Murasaki Inaka Genji, a parodic retelling of the Tale of Genji.

The scene presents a man in an elegant kimono with large floral patterns, accompanied by a boy in festive armor. With its gold-speckled background and vivid colors, the composition reflects the playful luxury of Genji’s world.

Attribution: Kunisada (Toyokuni III), based on Tanehiko’s text
Format: miniature print (6.2 × 9.5 cm) on washi paper
Decorative highlights: gold-speckled background (kirazuri style)
Genre: Genji-e, miniature bijin/yakusha tradition

Safe and tracked shipping from Latvia (Riga Gallery of Japanese Art CloudyYokomido).

The frame shown in the photos is used solely to illustrate possible display. The listing includes the woodblock print only, without the frame.

Series Note

Series: Nise Murasaki Inaka Genji (偐紫田舎源氏, “The False Murasaki’s Rustic Genji”)

Originally published between 1829 and 1842, Nise Murasaki Inaka Genji was a hugely popular illustrated novel written by Ryūtei Tanehiko (1783–1842) and illustrated by Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1865). It offered a humorous and lavishly illustrated parody of the classical Tale of Genji, adapted for the tastes of the late Edo audience.

Due to its success, the work was reprinted many times well into the modern era. Early 20th-century reprints (Meiji–Taishō–early Shōwa, ca. 1900–1935) often appeared in miniature format as collectible prints, retaining the original spirit of the Edo masterpieces. These reprints carried decorative features such as mica (kirazuri) and gold-speckled backgrounds, echoing the luxurious aesthetics of Edo surimono.

Today, these miniature reprints form a distinct category within ukiyo-e collecting: not Edo-period originals, but highly evocative artifacts that bridge Edo literary culture with modern Japanese printing traditions.

For US buyers: this item enters the United States duty-free.