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Hello, I think that the print represents Ono no komachi and was done by Katsushika Taito II, but I found no signature. I believe it belongs to a series of harimaze. I would be grateful if someone could give me some information about this series.

best regards
jg

Dear Jean-Gabriel,

I'm just an African-Brazilian student of Japanese language, not an expert in Japanese art. But the layout of this artwork strongly suggests it was used for advertising. And, yes, it could be Ono no Komachi (most likely) or even Lady Murasaki Shikibu – traditionally read from right to left: 玉堂 Gyokudō (or Tamadō) Jade Hall / Jeweled Pavilion. In the much smaller text, it is difficult to transcribe entirely, but it's an address: 池之端　木　仲町　越長 Ikenohata, Ki, Nakamachi, Etchō – which permits us to fix the date to c. 1830–1842, which is consistent with Katsushika Taito II (active circa 1810–1853).

仲町 (Nakamachi) is a district in Osaka. The ending, which looks like a shop mark, may be an unreadable "censor's" round seal.

The name "Gyokudō" was a very popular yagō (shop or business name). Businesses dealing in fine arts, publishing, traditional sweets, or tea often adopted this name to project prestige. The lady is wearing a jūnihitoe, the complex, multi-layered silk robe worn by Heian court women. I simply love the suberakashi hairstyle with hair flowing down her back.

Oh, please, I almost forgot. Pay attention—let me rephrase myself. If the editor Echigoya Chōhachi's publishing mark after "仲町 (Nakamachi)" is in the middle of the address... [𠆢 over 木] Ikenohata [Yamaki] address:

池之端 ["𠆢" over "木"] 仲町　越長 - Ikenohata, Ki [Yamaki], Nakamachi, Etchō.

In fact, the symbol [𠆢 over 木] in the middle top margin identifies the publisher Echigoya Chōhachi (越後屋長八), and is often abbreviated as Etsuchō. "𠆢" (Yamagata / Hitoyane): This top component visually sometimes represents a mountain (山) or, as here, a protective roof/umbrella, and symbolizes stability. 木 (Ki) is the standard kanji for "tree" or "wood." Please hit Ctrl+V for "Echigoya Chohachi" or take a look at page xiv2 in the following book:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/Japanese_colour_prints_%28IA_japanesecolourpr00biny_2%29.pdf

And also take a look at these two other links where you may find similar works:

https://dl.ndl.go.jp/pid/1305137/1/1
(the seal is quite visible here, possibly the same seal we couldn't identify on your piece)

https://www.ukiyoesig.net/pubseals.html
(look for "ikenohata" down below)

Best regards from Brazil,
Renato Araújo

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