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Hello,
I own the ukiyo-e in the attached pictures: the first one, probably by Kunisada I, maybe shows a dramatic moment in a Noh Theater piece, while in the second one, by unknow author to me, there is a lady in a garden.
Please, I would like to know the meaning of what is written in both these ukiyo-e and, possibly the name of the theatrical piece of the first print and the exact matter and the maker of the second one.
I hope in your kind help.
Thanks a lot in advance and my best wishes for an Happy New Year,
Luciano

The first (badly faded) print is indeed by Kunisada. Since he signed as Kunisada, it is before 1844. The left/lower actor is (I think) Onoe Kikujiro. The ghost actor above is Onoe Baiju (maybe).

The second print is by Chikanobu.

I hope someone with some Japanese skills can help me out here.

Cheers,
Stan

Hello Stan,
thank you so much for your kind and so expert reply.
I hope that someone could translate the japanese writings but, anyway, you told me lots of news about these prints.
I also understand that the first one shows a Kabuki, not a Noh, theater piece.
It's also true that the first print is very badly faded and also the second one needs assistance: would you suggest some best practices for restoration or... some skilled and honest ukiyo-e restorer?
Thank you again and cheers,
Luciano



The first (badly faded) print is indeed by Kunisada. Since he signed as Kunisada, it is before 1844. The left/lower actor is (I think) Onoe Kikujiro. The ghost actor above is Onoe Baiju (maybe).

The second print is by Chikanobu.

I hope someone with some Japanese skills can help me out here.

Cheers,
Stan

I struggled with the actors names. I compared them with a list of actors/plays known to have been illustrated by Kunisada (at kunisada.de). These are written in a "cursive" script. I had to use my imagination a bit.

Regrettably, once prints have reached this state there is little that can be done. I believe there are process to clean a print - more used for local blemishes. The best thing that you can do is store prints in a pH neutral folder and don't expose them to light.

Cheers,
Stan

Hello Stan,
thank you again for your news and for your advices about restoration and maintenance.
I have found the subject of my second print: reading on http://www.chikanobu.com, I see that it is from a sequence of twelve prints, “The twelve-layered kimono” (in japanese Jūnihitoe) representing the months: this is the month of Kannazuki (7 Nov. - 6 Dec.) and it was published by Hasegawa Sumi in 1897.
In the next days, I'll try to get some pictures of the ukiyo-e without the frames.
Thanks again and best regards,
Luciano

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