Toyokuni III, (Kunisada) (1786-1864) was born in Katsushika in Musashi,
and lived in Edo. He was the chief pupil of Toyokuni at 15, where he
took the artists’ name Kunisada. Kunisada became the leader of the
Utagawa school after the Toyokuni’s death. Like other ukiyo-e artists he
used many names, including Gototei, Kochoro, and Ichiyusai. After 1844 he signed
Toyokuni II, ignoring the prior claim of Gosotei Toyokuni, adopted son of Toyokuni.
In 1807 he produced his first book illustrations and in 1808 began to make actor
prints. His early works feature bijin-ga, courtesans and he did some
erotica, but due to the government censorship edits of 1842, he decided to
assume the name of his teacher, calling himself Toyokuni III in 1844. In
1847 he partially retired, continuing to work and even producing a large
number of prints. At this time he maintained a large studio, bigger than
the one he had before his retirement. On his 70th birthday, an exhibition
in his honor was held in Ryogoku.
The Prince Hikaru Genji Holding an Insect Cage under Drooping Cherry Blossom Branches, ca. 1847
The Late Heian Era Warrior Taira no Kiyomori (1118-81) in His Rokuhara Palace, Kyoto, 1844
The Actor Sawamura ChojuroV as Suzuki Mondo, 1852
The Courtesan Urayama and Her Attendant, 1853
Mother with a Koto and Daughter with a Samisen (three stringed instrument about to Play a Musical Piece), 1830s
The Actor Onoe Eizaburo I as Ume no Kata, the Mistress of a Lord, ca. 1832
The Actor Onoe Baiko II in the Role of the Geisha, Yakko no Oman rom Nakacho, 1815
Woman Standing on a Straw Mat and Powdering Her Face, 1857
Courtesan and Her Maid Standing by a Pond, 1826
The Actor Segawa Kikunojo V as Shigzuka-gozen, 1829
The Courtesan Asaju of Daimonjiya Brothel, late 1830s
Seated Geisha Dressed in a Kimono with Tie-Dyed Pattern Holding a Fan, 1830s
The Actor Iwai Shijaku I as the Chivalrous Man, Shirai Gonpachi, and a Girl, 1829
The Courtesan Katsuragi Viewing Plum Blossoms in the Night., 1858
Woman from a Shop in Ryogoku Standing by the Bank of the Sumida River, ca.1844
The Actor Onoe Kikugoro III Goes to the First Bath of the New Year, 1830s
Parody of a scene from the Tale of Genji (Genji Monogatari), written by the poetess Murasaki Shikibu at the end of the 10th century. The print is a sheet from a triptych.
The kabuki play Kagamiyama (Mt. Kagami), performed at the Ichimura-za theatre from the 3rd day of the 3rd month, 1852.
The courtesan standing in a room holding a letter and a shinzo (courtesan's handmaid) seated beside her. The poem inscribed in the red cartouche reads: "Uryama shi noki ni kototou tsubakura no koe" ("I become envious in the eaves a swallow is twittering").
Series: Tosei Azuma Nishiki-e (Contemporary Brocade Pictures of the East)
The kabuki play is not listed in the kabuki Nenpyo (Kabuki Chronology). The actor Onoe Eizaburo changed his name from Onoe Kikushi around 1831 and became a popular onnagata (female role) actor. This print might have been excuted around the time that he changed his name. It is believed to be part of a multiple sheet composition, probably a triptych.
The print is probably the right-hand sheet of a diptych. The actor Onoe Baiko II as Yakko no Oman in the play "Godairiki Iro no Minato" (Five Persons of Great Strength: Lovelorn Harbor), performed at the Nakamura-za theatre, Edo in the 3rd month, 1815.
Series: Edo Meisha Hyakunin Bijo (Famous Places of Edo: One Hundred Beautiful Women). The series consists of 100 prints depicting women of varied occupations and appearances juxtaposed with framed pictures of famous places in Edo designed by Kunihisa, the pupil of Kunisada. The series was originally intended to be published in sets of 10 designs by 10 publishers. It was however no issued consistently since some of the publishers only published a few designs and some brought out more than 10.
The print is a center sheet of a triptych.
The kabuki play Yoshitsune Senbon-zakura (The Warrior Minamoto Yoshitsune: One Thousand Cherry Trees), performed at the Nakamura-za theatre from the 3rd day of the 3rd month, 1829. The print is probaby the left-hand sheet of a diptych.
The print is probably the left-hand sheet of a triptych.
Series: Edo Meijo Zue (Pictures of Noted Women in Edo). The series title plays upon the words Meijo ("noted women") and Meisho ("noted places"). The framed picture in this print shows a drum bridge on the grounds of a shrine. Below the framed picture there is a gold fish bowl with a morning glory.
Series: Yakusha Suikoden Goketsu Hyaku Hachinin no Hitori (Actors Likened to the One Hundred and Eight Popular Heroes of the Suikoden.) The actor Iwai Shijaku I played the role of the chivalrous man Shirai Gonpachi in the play Yamato Moji Iroha no Kaomise (Japanese Iroha Syllabary of the Kaomise Performance), performed at the Kawarazaki-za theatre from the 13th day of the 11th month, 1829. In the year 1827, Kuniyoshi made his debut by publishing a series of prints featuring the Chinese heroes of the Suikoden. This series had a great impact on Kunisada.
The print is the right-hand sheet of a triptych. The inscription or title in the red cartouche in the upper right corner reads "Harugasumi Ume no Yukyo" (Enjoyment of Plum Blossoms in the Spring Haze.)
"Ichiryo no hanabi mamonaki hikari kana" (Fireworks worth one ryo and shortly the world turns bright!). The inscription above the woman is by the fiction writer Ryukatei Tanekazu (1807-58). It says:
"In the area of Ryogoku there is a shop selling hair cosmetics. It lies in the west Ryogoku and is called Iggarashi. In the eastern section of Ryogoku there is a tea house called Ransetsu known for pickles seasoned in sake-lees. The pickles are good to eat with boiled rice and tea. There is also a shop called basho which sells ointments in Hirokoji near Ryogoku.
The inscription on the right reads "Wakayu no Zu" (Picture of enjoying the first boiled water of the year in a bath tub). The sacred straw festoon called shime indicates that the season is New Year.
