Original Kunisada I(Toyokuni Iii) Japanese Woodblock Actor Sawamura Tanosuke Iii

Original Kunisada I (Toyokuni III, 1786-1864) JAPANESE WOODBLOCK UKIYO-E PRINT ACTOR Sawamura Tanosuke III as Kangiku no Kinomatsu

Artist Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III) (Japanese, 1786–1864)

Actor Sawamura Tanosuke III as Kangiku no Kinomatsu, from an untitled pentaptych

「☆ ( 金偏に丸旁 ) 菊の紀の松　沢村田之助」（三代目）

Another copy of this print can be found in the Museum of fine arts Boston

Japanese Edo period, 1861 (Man'en 2/Bunkyû 1), 7th month Publisher Kiya Sôjirô (Japanese), Blockcutter Ôta Komakichi (Hori Koma, Hori Tashichi) (Japanese)

Play: Tôkaidô Iroha Nikki Theater: Ichimura

Signed Toyokuni ga, in toshidama cartouche 豊国画 ( 年玉枠 )

Markings Censor's seal: Chicken 7 aratame Blockcutter's mark: Ôta Hori Koma 改印：酉七改 彫師：太田彫駒

Woodblock is unframed and mounted to the cardboard.

Woodblock is approx 9 1/2 inches by 14 inches. Cardboard is approx 18 inches by 13 ½ inches. It is ready to be framed.

CONDITION:

The piece overall is in good condition. Some toning, some minor wear, some surface soiling commensurate with its age. No repairs. Woodblock is mounted to the carboard.

PLESASE SEE PICTURE FOR DETAILS.

About the artist:

Born in the Honjo district of Edo as Kunisada Tsunoda, Kunisada’s family owned a small hereditary ferryboat service. Though his father, an amateur poet, died when Kunisada was a child, the family business provided some financial security. During his childhood, he showed considerable promise in painting and drawing. Due to strong familial ties with literary and theatrical circles, he spent time studying actor portraits.

At age 14, he was admitted to study under Toyokuni, head of the Utagawa school. Kunisada’s work embodies the characteristics of the Utagawa school, focusing on traditional subjects such as kabuki, bijin (beautiful women), shunga (erotic prints), and historical prints. His first known print dates to 1807, his first illustrated book to 1808. Kunisada’s career took off from the beginning. Many of his works became overnight successes and he was considered the “star attraction” of the Utagawa School. He signed his works “Kunisada” sometimes with the studio names of Gototei and Kochoro affixed. In 1844, he adopted the name of his teacher and became Toyokuni III. Kunisada passed away in 1864 in the same neighborhood that he was born. He was 70 years old. Kunisada was a highly popular, and the most active, ukiyo-e artist of the 19th century. In his time, his reputation surpassed those of his contemporaries Hiroshige and Kuniyoshi.

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