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Subject:Help with Kunisada woodblock print
Posted By: Stan Sat, Sep 18, 2021 IP: 2601:18c:504:a6e0:81

Good evening Asian Art friends,

I bought a print lot at auction and the Kunisada woodblock print below has me stumped. I can't find it online with various image search tools. I can't make anything out of the censor/date seal. Thus, I can't date it. I can't find it on my favorite Japanese print sites.

If you can provide any further information, I'd really appreciate it.

Cheers,
Stan





Subject:Re: Help with Kunisada woodblock print
Posted By: I.Nagy Sun, Sep 19, 2021

Title,
俳優花白浪 - Haiyū hana-shiranami - Actors of Flower White Wawes
"Shiranami" (White Wawes) being a term used to refer to thieves
日本駄右エ門 - Nippon Daemon
河原崎権十郎 - Kawarazaki Gonjūrō
Kawarazaki Gonjūrō in role of Nippon Daemon

Censor's seal,
亥八改  - 1863.08.
Publisher's mark,
重¬ 萬善 - Kanashige¬ Manzen - Manya Zentarō (萬屋善太郎)
Carver's nark,
彫工小金 - Horikō:Kogane (Kokin)
Signature,
國貞画  - Kunisada-ga

With regards,
I.Nagy

Subject:Re: Help with Kunisada woodblock print
Posted By: Horst Graebner Sun, Sep 19, 2021

The signature “Kunisada ga“ and the date seal (1863) indicate, that the artist is Kunisada II.
The publishers firm name is Yorozuya Zentarō although the short form is Manzen.
Horst

Subject:Re: Help with Kunisada woodblock print
Posted By: Stan Sun, Sep 19, 2021

Dear I. Nagy,

Thank you for your most informative reply. I really appreciate it.

Cheers,
Stan

Subject:Re: Help with Kunisada woodblock print
Posted By: Guy Mon, Sep 20, 2021

Just adding that the artist here is Utagawa Kunisada II (1823-1880).

Guy.

Subject:Re: Help with Kunisada woodblock print
Posted By: Guy Mon, Sep 20, 2021

The publisher is Yorozuya Zentarô (万屋善太郎), seal Jû Manzen (重,萬善). This publisher was active between c. 1861-1868.

Guy.

Subject:Re: Help with Kunisada woodblock print
Posted By: I.Nagy Mon, Sep 20, 2021

You are right,
萬屋 is Yorozuya
I.Nagy

Subject:Re: Help with Kunisada woodblock print
Posted By: Stan Mon, Sep 20, 2021

Thanks for your input everyone. I suspected just from the look of it that it was Kunisada II. I. Nagy's date confirmed it.

Cheers,
Stan


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