Hi, I recently found these two woodblocks in a op shop in Australia, my dad has been collecting woodblocks so I was thrilled to find them.
I was able to identify one but haven’t had much luck with the top one, I’ve including a photo of the one I identified just in case it helps since they were found together.
thanks in advance
Print by Toyokuni I signing 豊國画. Seal of publisher Izumiya Ichibei. The seal Sen'ichi han 泉市板 was used in the 1820s and 30s.
Thank you that’s a lot of great information, could I ask how old do you think it is?
Toyokuni died in 1825, so the date is probably 1820-25, provided this is a woodprint. You can tell a woodprint from a lithograph by looking at the back of the print : if the colors bled through the paper it is most likely a woodprint. To tell a lithograph from an ordinary reproduction, look at the print with a magnifying glass ; if rhe colors are made of dots (like on a tv or computer screen) ir is a recent halftone print.
out comes the magnifying glass. Thanks for all the help identifying and answering my questions you’ve been a massive help