Original woodblockrprint. Japan,


UTAGAWA KUNISADA I 歌川国貞 (1786 - 1865) Ro - ろ - "Silber o". The actor Nakamura Fukusuke in the theatric role of the poet and sage Kisen Hôshi (Rokkasen Kisemu). Original colour woodblock print from the series Seisho Nanatsu Iroha 清書七伊呂波 - "The Seven Variations of Iroha" Signature: Toyokuni ga in Toshidama-cartouche. Publisher: Enshuya Hikobei. Seal of censor: Aratame, and seal of date. Edition: 1856, 6th month. Good condition. About the artist: Kunisada's (= Toyokuni III) preferential object was the depiction of actor portraits, which earned him the designation „Yakusha-e no Kunisada" ("Kunisada of the actor-portraits"). There is hardly any genre in Japanese woodblock printing that he had not artistically worked on. In his best artworks he rather used strong, pronounced and dramatic strokes, colourful and contrasting geometrical spaces - e.g. in actor portraits or in theatrical and ghost scenes; whereas his lines became much more delicate and imaginative when drawing female beauties, geishas or courtesans. Kunisada was the only artist in the 19th century, who sustained the artistic genre of the Sumô-depicting. About 1830, after including also landscape drawing and the Surimono into his creative artwork, he ranked as the leading master in woodblock prints in Japan.

Condition report: Very good


OBAN 36 x 24,6 CM

From an Austrian collection

Condition reports and further images are available upon request

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Expertise: Wolfmar Zacken