Featured Japanese art questions

Hello all, I saved this piece from the trash and I have some questions about it and this is the only place I know to go.
I believe it is japanese print of some sort, it is not in the greatest shape. Seems to be on three separate panels, triptych-like I guess you could say. The matting is in bad shape as well, so my question is would it be best to leave the matting on it and just try to clean up the best I can? Next question is about the language, can anyone decipher any of it?? I've tried Google translate to no avail.
I was also curious if someone had an approximate year or period this may be from?? I dont think its a reproduction, im not an expert either.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you in advance as always!!!

 

Shaky finger ?

 

The trash?! Here it is. A Japanese woodblock print. The artist is Utagawa Kunisada. The title of the work is "Amusements on a Moonlit Night." It dates to 1847-52. And the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston has a copy.

https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc162664

Debora

 

Wow!! Awesome thank you very much

 

Here's information about the artist.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kunisada

Debora

 

Do you believe it is an original print??

 

Don't know what your intention is. Keep? Sell? But don't touch it. It needs professional restoration.

Debora

 

I usually dont sell anything, I really just wanted to hang it and enjoy it, I can't with the frame in the shape it is in. I generally dont ask about value if a piece, would it be worth it to get it done?? How much does that usually cost to get done, I know it will differ from case to case I'm sure.

 

What's wrong with the frame? And, of course, we shouldn't assume it's an original and not a copy.

Debora

 

Frame is really rickety, didnt really want to move it around too much, just fragile I guess. I will look into some restoration on it around my location and see what they say about it. I do alleviate all the help.

 

Check the dimensions against those of the print in the Boston museum. And check to see if it's made the same (a triptych?) and of the same quality. Yours appears to be in pretty bad shape. (I see both tears and water damage.) If original, restoration would likely be pricey.

Debora

 

I would just hang it and enjoy. The cost for restoration would far exceed its value IMHO

Mikey

 

Gorgeous piece-and even though damaged, you got it for a good price ! By the way,speaking of 'trash'-can you give me the address of that dumpster ?
PS-Def what you'd call a 'Dumbster Fire' !.
Here's more re $ abt this artist-
https://www.roningallery.com/artist...0TdpsQDDecCgK8UnqkpAPm21qRRg8KXOA0_FOp9UdFsbr

 

You can take it to a local frame shop where they can safely remove it and repair (or replace) the frame, and add uv resistant glass. If it is wrinkled they can give it some time in a dry mount press to gently flatten it (do NOT have them actually dry mount it to anything...just putting it in the press to flatten). I can't tell for sure, but it looks like there's no mat so a framer can also add spacers so it's not against the glass where it can become damaged (if not already).

 

Ditto re Mirana said.Here's an article about the Asian Restoration Dept at the British Museum- https://www.britishmuseum.org/blog/one-kind-hirayama-conservation-studio .
I did art & commercial art/illustration for years, so I'd probably try a bit of 'inpainting' to fill in the missing areas with a reversible pigment (Windsor Newton Gouache). But that's all a matter of how confident you feel regarding your art skill set.

 

I only found one other copy of this work on-line and that was in the MFA collection. I'd treat it as "rare" until you find out otherwise.

Debora

 

Or as my amigo would say-'Don't go noodlin' about with it mate til ya find out it aint the Holy Grail'

 

I can't completely check the measurements of picture without taking back off, they are really close to measurements they should be but I can also tell some is behind mat that I can't get exact measurements. So, im not the one that needs to do that..lol...I will take it to gallery and I will keep post updated as to what they say and also exact measurements.