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Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III)

Japanese

1786-1865

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  1. Yokobue by Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III), Image 2.

    Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III)

    Yokobue, c. 1845

    Color Woodcut

    7.25 x 10 in

  2. Wakamurasaki by Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III), Image 1.

    Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III)

    Wakamurasaki, c. 1843-47

    Color Woodblock

    10.125 x 7.3125 in

  3. Sudden Shower at the Mimeguri Shrine by Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III), Image 1.

    Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III)

    Sudden Shower at the Mimeguri Shrine, 1844 - 1845

    Woodblock

    15 x 10 in

Toyokuni III, also known as Kunisada, was born in the Honjo district of Edo as Kunisada Tsunoda. His family owned a small ferryboat service that provided some financial stability after the passing of Toyokuni's father. During his childhood he showed particular interest in painting and drawing and spent a lot of time studying actor portraits. At the age of fourteen he studied under Toyokuni, head of the Utagawa School. The Utagawa School focused on traditional subjects, such as kabuki, bijin (beautiful women), Shunga (erotic prints), and historical prints. Toyokuni's first known print dates back to 1807, and his first illustrated book in 1808. Toyokuni was known to have reached success early on, with his works considered the "star attraction" of the Utagawa School. He signed his works "Kunisada," sometimes with the studio names of Gototei and Kochoro affixed. In 1844, he adopted the name of his teacher and became Toyokuni III. Toyokuni died in 1864 in his birthplace at seventy years old. A highly popular artist of the Ukiyo-e, his reputation surpassed his contemporaries, such as Hiroshige and Kuniyoshi.