Utagawa Toyokuni II (1777-1835)
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An aizuri-e (blue print) showing the courtesan Utagawa of Tamaya admiring a bowl of carnations. From a set Bijin awase published by Shimizu, c. late 1820s. These blue prints using the imported bero, Berlin blue (what we called Prussian blue), became popular during the 1820s to 1840s as the cost came down.
Fine impression and colour. Trimmed slightly, otherwise very good condition. Signed Toyokuni ga.
Status: Available
Utagawa TOYOKUNI II (TOYOSHIGE) (1777-1835)
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An original painting on paper, unmounted, showing Asahina Saburo (Wada no Saburo Yoshihide), a famous warrior of the early Kamakura period (1185-1333). Image size 11.5 x 15.5 in; 29.2 x 39.5 cms. Signed Toyokuni suichu hitsu, “Toyokuni painted while being drunk.”
Status: Sold
Utagawa TOYOKUNI II (TOYOSHIGE) (1777-1835)
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A vertical diptych of Shoki, the Demon Queller. The character originates from China being a deity from China’s Taoist pantheon. He is always shown with his scholar’s hat, large robe and boots, and usually carrying a sword with which he attacks oni. Images of Shoki were hung outside houses to ward off evil during the Boys’ Day Festival on May 5th. Published by Yamamoto Kyubei, c 1820. Prints by Toyoshige are often misattributed to Toyokuni I and vice versa because late Toyokuni I signatures and those of Toyoshige are similar. Rare.
Very good impression and colour. Some edge soil, otherwise very good condition. Signed Gosotei Toyokuni hitsu.
Status: Sold
Utagawa TOYOKUNI II (1777-1835)
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A surimono showing a bust portrait of the actor Ichikawa Danjuro VII as Kanawa no Goro, a retainer of Kamatari no Fujiwara, disguised as the fisherman Fukashichi from the Mikasayama Goten scene at the palace on Mount Mikasa in Act 4 of Imoseyama onna teikino. Three poems by Shoshokyo Otokado, Sakuragawa Jihinari and Sakuragawa Omokage. Issued c. mid 1820s. Rare.
Fine impression. Very good colour and condition. Signed Toyokuni ga.
Status: Sold
Utagawa TOYOKUNI II (1777-1835)
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A surimono showing a bust portrait of the actor Ichikawa Danjuro VII as Kanawa no Goro, a retainer of Kamatari no Fujiwara, disguised as the fisherman Fukashichi from the Mikasayama Goten scene in Act 4 of Imoseyama onna teikino. Three poems by Shoshokyo Otokado, Sakuragawa Jihinari, and Sakuragawa Omokage. Issued c mid-1820s. Provenance: originally purchased from me in 1977 (see my catalogue 20, 1977, no. 38). Unidentified collector’s seal au verso. Rare.
Very good impression, colour and condition. Signed Toyokuni ga.
Status: Sold
Utagawa TOYOKUNI II (TOYOSHIGE ) ( 1777-1835 )
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Evening Glow ( Sunset ) at Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture. From a set Meisho hakkei, “Eight Views of Famous Places” ( based on the Eight Views of Omi theme ). Published 1830s by Iseri. The town is famous for the Onsen hot springs and the area is known for its past volcanic activity. Across Sagami Bay can be seen smoke coming from the volcanic island of Oshima ( the epicentre of the great Kanto earthquake of 1923 ).
Fine impression and colour.There are two states of this set: one with square and one with cursive script ( as here ) in the oblong cartouche at top. It is unclear which is the earliest. This purple cartouche is often faded out to a puce colour. Slight centre fold otherwise very good condition. Signed Toyokuni hitsu.
Status: Sold
Utagawa TOYOKUNI II (TOYOSHIGE) (1777-1835)
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Clearing weather over the Enoshima Island from a Meisho hakkei, “Eight Views of Famous Places” ( based on the Eight Views of Omi theme ) set published 1830s by Iseri. A view of the island from Shichiri Beach in Sagami Province. The island was dedicated to Benten ( one of the seven gods of good luck ).
Fine impression. There are two states of this set: one with square and one with cursive script ( as here ) in the oblong cartouche at top. It is unclear which is the earliest. Fine impression. Small expert restoration to two upper corners, otherwise fine colour and condition. Signed Toyokuni hitsu.
Status: Sold
Utagawa TOYOKUNI II (1777-1835)
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Fuji bosetsu, Evening Snow on Fuji from a set of Eight Famous Views published by Iseya Rihei, c. 1833-4. Fuji towers over a religious compound. Toyokuni, like Kuniyoshi, Kunisada, Gakutei and Hokkei, while not known as a landscapes artist, produced a few fine examples, as here. Rare.
Very fine impression and colour. Fine condition. The first edition: It’s not generally known that there are two editions with the title recut. Also, the purple colour in the title label invariably fades to a puce colour. Signed Toyokuni hitsu.
Status: Sold
Utagawa TOYOKUNI II (1777-1835)
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A vertical diptych showing a tiger. A striking design published by Yamamotoya Heikichi c1820s.
Fine early impression with gauffrage. Fine colour. Slight creasing and small edge repair, but otherwise very good, Full size. Signed Gosotei Toyokuni hitsu.
Status: Sold
Utagawa TOYOKUNI II (1777-1835)
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A bust portrait of a beauty in the form of a fan from a series of the Six Tama Rivers, this being the Ide (or Hagi) no Tamagawa in Yamashiro. Published by Tsujiokaya Bunsuke with date seal 1823.
Very fine impression and colour. Very faint centrefold. Signed Toyokuni ga.
Status: Sold
Utagawa TOYOKUNI II ( TOYOSHIGE ) (1777-1835)
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A courtesan with a toothpick and playing with a cat compared to the actor Iwai Hanshiro V ( inset in a sake cup top right ). From a series Imayo bijin awase, shinsei sugatami sakazuki, “A Comparison of Modern Beauties – A New Mirror of Sake Cups.” Published by Imariya Ushizo, c 1820-24.
Very good impression, colour and condition. Extensive mica added to the coat of the courtesan. Signed Toyokuni ga.
Status: Sold
Utagawa TOYOKUNI II (1777-1835)
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An aizuri (blue) print from a set Tosei bijin hana-awase, “Beauties of the Latest Fashion Compared to the Beauty of Flowers.” In this case kikyo flowers – the Chinese bellflower. Aizuri prints were the outcome of avoiding intermittent edicts promulgated by the bakufu prohibiting the number of blocks that could be used. The aim being to curb excesses, raise moral standards and encourage thrift. Published by Shimizo, c. late 1820s. Three other prints from set are in the Brooklyn Museum of Art, 76.151.13; 14; 15.
Fine impression, colour and condition. Signed Toyokuni ga.
Status: Sold