Attached is a Kuniyoshi print with an unusual (at least to me) signature. I think the signature reads, in part, Ikusa Kuniyoshi (井草國芳). I am at a loss with respect to the last two characters. Any ideas? As always, any help would be appreciated. Thank you–
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井草國芳謹冩 Ikusa Kuniyoshi kinsha
謹冩 kinsha (humble sketch?) rare enough signature to be absent from the list in the Kuniyoshi project website.
Thank you! The series is illustrated on the Kuniyoshi Project but the signature used in that series is not singled out. It's an unusual series from a design standpoint too-- not typical of other Chushingura prints.
The signature page of the Kuniyoshi Project has been updated, "kinsha" means faithfully rendered. It could also be translated by carefully drawn
Thank you for the additional readings. Interestingly, the British Museum didn't have a reading for the last two characters in the signature block:
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/A_2008-3037-16415
It does appear to be an uncommon signature.