Preliminary identification
Photo reference
5 uploaded photos
Overview
An original Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock print triptych by the legendary master Utagawa Kuniyoshi. It depicts three elegant women wading through the Ide Jewel River in Yamashiro Province, surrounded by blooming yellow globeflowers (yamabuki) and cherry blossoms. This subject is a classic poetic allusion (mitate-e) to the famous 'Six Jewel Rivers' of Japan.
Story
In the 1840s, strict censorship laws banned portraits of actors and courtesans in Japan. Artists like Kuniyoshi bypassed these rules by disguising fashionable figures as historical travelers enjoying famous scenic rivers.
Maker / Origin
Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861) was one of the last great masters of the Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock print. Renowned for his dynamic warrior prints, whimsical depictions of cats, and dramatic triptychs, his imaginative compositions and bold use of color heavily influenced modern manga and tattoo art.
Condition & Value
The prints appear to be unbacked, showing good bleed-through on the reverse. There is some minor edge wear, light toning, and typical horizontal center folds from historical storage, but the colors remain remarkably vibrant and the sheets have not been trimmed into the margins. Excellent preservation for their age.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.