Dear All,
I have in my collection this Japanese woodblock print.
There is visible marks and signature. The signature looks like the signature of a famous artist.
But, this is unsufficient to confirm my feeling as the print is not in the artist database.
Can you help me identify the artist?
Thanks.
Nicolas
The print is by Kunisada I, here signing "Kunisada aratame nidai Toyokuni ga" (designed by Kunisada who changed his name to Toyokuni II).
In the attached photo your print is on the left; but most likely it belongs on the right side.
It is a bijin print without a title. The publisher is Ezakiya Tatsuzō, the censorship seal is Muramatsu. Because of the signature the print can be dated to 1844.
Thank you for the detailled answer.
A question. You wrote that Kunisada changed his name to Toyokuni II. I have a different information. His new name would be Toyokuni III. What is the right information?
For your information, I have another print from the same artist. Please see attache. As you could see, the colours of the vase and of the pot on the right sides are different of the colours of the versions presented on ukiyo-e website. Do you have any details regarding the publisher, the censorship and the date of the print?
Thanks.
Nicolas
Toyokuni I bequeathed his name to Toyoshige, who became the second Toyokuni in 1825.
Kunisada was “upset” because he felt he was the legitimate artistic successor to his teacher Toyokuni I.
After Toyoshige's (Toyokuni II) death, Kunisada tried for years to get permission from Toyokuni I's family to use the name Toyokuni.
He received this permission in 1844. From then on he used the name Toyokuni, ignoring the fact that he was the third person to use this name. He called himself Toyokuni II.
In the historical/art historical perspective, however, he is Toyokuni III.
Your print is the bottom left sheet of a Genji hexaptych. Title: Bath at Akashi (Akashi buro, あかし風呂) [see https://www.harashobo.com/ukiyoe//ukiyoe_detail.php?print_id=29972 ]
; signature on your sheet is "Kōchōrō Toyokuni ga"; publisher Tsutaya Jūzaburō; censorship seals Mera and Murata; Date circa 1850.
The different colors can have two causes: discoloration due to exposure to light or a different color selection for different editions.
Thank you very much.