19C Japanese WB Print "Actor Print" by Utagawa Kunisada (Yir)

Up for sale from a well known collector in Honolulu this 19th century Japanese color woodblock print depicting actors and was created by well known artist Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865). The condition is described above for more details please check the photos. There will be multiple pieces listed from the collection so please check the others in our eBay store.


Measurements:

Print 14.25 inches x 9.75 inches


More about the artist:

During his lifetime Kunisada Utagawa was considered to be the best print designer by his contemporaries. He was more popular than Hiroshige, Hokusai or Kuniyoshi. And Kunisada was extremely productive. His total output is estimated at more than 20,000 designs, many made by his students.


Student of Toyokuni I:

Kunisada was born near Edo (today Tokyo) as the son of an affluent merchant with a ferry boat license. At the age of fifteen he joined the famous art school of Utagawa Toyokuni and took the name Kunisada.


Kunisada's Early Success:

In 1807 the young artist produced his first illustrated book. And in 1808 his first actor prints were published. His fame grew fast. While other artists like Kuniyoshi Utagawa or Hiroshige had to fight for recognition for years, he was successful from the beginning. He should become the most commercially successful of all woodblock printmakers ever. His early success may not have had a good influence on his personality. He had a reputation for his conceited personality.


From Kunisada to Toyokuni:

Kunisada designed a wide spectrum of traditional ukiyo-e subjects like kabuki themes, beautiful women, historical events and quite a few shunga prints. He made few landscapes.

In 1825 Toyokuni I had died. Later in 1844 Kunisada decided to take the name of his master and called himself Toyokuni. He is now known as Toyokuni III. The name of Toyokuni II was claimed by a lesser known and mediocre ukiyo-e artist, Toyoshige. He was the son-in-law of Toyokuni I and became the head of the Utagawa School after the death of his father-in-law. Toyoshige is now referred as Toyokuni II. Kunisada was outraged when Toyoshige was named head of the Utagawa school and not him.

The name changes of ukiyo-e artists can be annoying and confusing for a new collector. The following list may help.

* 1807-1844: Gototei Kunisada
* 1833-1844: Kochoro Kunisada
* from 1844: Toyokuni (III)
* from 1845: Shozo

Many of the prints signed by Kunisada Utagawa bear the preceding Gototei, Kochoro or Ichiyosai to his artist name Kunisada, respectively Toyokuni after 1844. In 1844/45 the artist signed many of his prints with "Kunisada changing to Toyokuni". In 1845 he retired officially and called himself Shozo. But that did not mean that he stopped printmaking.


Collaboration Works with Hiroshige and Kuniyoshi:

Although there was some rivalry between Kunisada and Kuniyoshi, the two men designed and published a series of prints together. He also made some collaborative prints with Hiroshige I. In 1852 Kunisada designed the series Restaurants of Edo and in 1855 the series The Fifty-Three Stations from Two Brushes in collaboration with Hiroshige.

Condition: 

Original print, acceptable condition, bleached, toned, soiled, glued down, chopped margins