Bust portrait of an unidentified actor in the role of a half-naked samurai from a series titled "Mirror of Good and Evil Spirits" by Toyohara Kunichika (1835-1900), published by Tsunoi in 4/1868. Paper size: 14" x 9 3/8". The print is a fine impression with very fresh color. The wood grain is plainly evident in the background and there are mica highlights. The left margin is trimmed. Thin Japanese album paper backing, but the image can be clearly seen on the reverse and there is no tape or...

Edo Period Japanese woodblock print by Toyokuni III (also known as Kunisada) depicting a half-length portrait of an actor portraying a samurai. This is one of a number of half-length portraits of actors designed by Kunisada in 1852. Signed at the right "Toyokuni ga" (in a red cartouche with yellow snow) with the seal of the publisher Yamazakiya Seishichi below. Fresh color and nice impression quality with fine delineation of the hair and lacquer highlights. The wood grain is plainly evident in t...

Edo Period Japanese woodblock print by Toyokuni III (also known as Kunisada) depicting an actor portraying a samurai standing in a garden under a blossoming cherry tree, published by Maruya Jinpachi in 1861. Signed "Toyokuni ga" (in a red cartouche with yellow snow). Measures 14 3/8"V x 9 5/8"H. Very good color and overall condition with embossed and mica highlights. The actor's entire kimono is highlighted in lacquer. The print is not backed and the baren marks and image are clearly visible o...

Japanese woodblock print titled "Poem #68" from an untitled set of women compared to the one hundred poets by Toyokuni III (also known as Kunisada). Signed "Kochoro Kunisada ga" at the lower right. This series was published by Sanoya Kihei (Kikakudo) circa 1844-1848. The print depicts a beauty in a kimono kneeling and holding a lacquer tray of snacks. Above her is a book-form cartouche containing the poet with whom she is being compared. Floating in the background are three blue decorative flow...

Japanese Edo period woodblock print by Toyokuni III (also known as Kunisada) depicting a lively scene from Act 11 of "Chushingura e-kyodai" (Matching Pictures of Chushingura) dated 1859. "Chushingura" is also known as the "Tale of the Forty-seven Ronin." The seal of the publisher, Moriya Jihei, the censor seal, and the signature of the artist (signed "Toyokuni ga" in a red cartouche with yellow snow) are all located at the lower right. Standard vertical oban print measuring 14"V x 9 3/4"H. Very...

Japanese Edo period woodblock print by Toyokuni III (also known as Kunisada) featuring two beauties from Act 5 of "Chushingura e-kyodai" (Matching Pictures of Chushingura) dated 1859. "Chushingura" is also known as the "Tale of the Forty-seven Ronin." The censor's seal and the seal of the publisher, Moriya Jihei, are at the bottom of the print. The signature of the artist (signed "Toyokuni ga" in a red cartouche with yellow snow) is located at the bottom left corner. Standard vertical oban print...

Japanese Edo period woodblock print by Toyokuni III (also known as Kunisada) featuring a beauty serving tea to another beauty who is resting in a palanquin smoking a pipe from Act 6 of "Chushingura e-kyodai" (Matching Pictures of Chushingura) dated 1859. "Chushingura" is also known as the "Tale of the Forty-seven Ronin." The censor's seal and the seal of the publisher, Moriya Jihei, are at the lower left portion of the print. The signature of the artist (signed "Toyokuni ga" in a red cartouche w...

Edo Period Japanese woodblock print by Kunisada II (1823-1880) depicting kabuki actors dating 1865. The cartouche at the upper left bears the title of the series and the names of the actors. The signature of the artist, publisher's seal and censor's/date seal are located at the upper right. Measures 14 1/2"V x 10 1/8"H. Very good overall condition. The print is not backed and the baren marks and image are clearly visible on the back. No tape or tape stains. There is a thin fade line around the...

Japanese Edo period woodblock print by Kunisada II (1823-1880) depicting the actors Seki Sanjuro III and Ichikawa Danzo in the role of old barefoot monks holding fans. Published by Tsutaya Kichizo 9/1862. The cartouches at the upper left and upper right bear the names of the actors. The signature of the artist, publisher's seal and censor's seal are located at the lower right. Measures 14" x 9 3/8". This print is the center panel from a triptych which can be found in its complete form on th...

Japanese Edo period woodblock print by Toyokuni III (also known as Kunisada) depicting the actor Nakamura Shikan in a dramatic scene with a knife clenched between his teeth and his arm penetrating a Japanese paper folding screen. The date seal (4th month of 1861) and the signature of the artist (signed "Toyokuni ga" in a red cartouche with yellow snow) are at the bottom left portion of the image. The seal of the publisher Moriya Jihei is at the lower right. Standard vertical oban print measuri...

Japanese Edo period woodblock print from a small series featuring bust portraits of actors portraying two opposite charactors in old and current plays set against calligraphy by Toyokuni III (also known as Kunisada) collaborating with Torii Kiyomitsu II (1788-1868) dated 1852. The lower right corner bears the signature cartouches of both artists, censor and date seals, and the seal of the publisher Joshuya Juzo. The paper measures 14 3/4"V x 9 7/8"H. Very good impression quality with lacquer hi...

Japanese Edo period woodblock print by Toyokuni III (also known as Kunisada) depicting a kabuki actor portraying a samurai. His sword rests on the ground and his matchlock musket leans against the wall. Firearms were introduced to Japan by foreign traders in the 16th century. The maru-ni-chigai-Takanoha family mon is on his kimono. This crest, which consisted of two crossed hawk feathers, was used by two Edo period samurai families. This image was published by Maruya Seijiro in 1854. The ce...

Japanese Edo period woodblock print titled "Four" (yon/shi) depicting the actors Onoe Kikugoro IV and Ichikawa Kodanji IV in the roles of Oiwa and Izaemon from a series titled "After The Seven Iroha" by Toyokuni III (also known as Kunisada) dated 8/1856. This series was published the same year as "Seven Variations of the Iroha." The title cartouches of the prints in this series feature ciphers written seven different ways. "Iroha" refers to a distinct form of Japanese poetry. The publisher's s...

Japanese Edo period woodblock print by Toyokuni III (also known as Kunisada), depicting a heavily tattoed actor Ichikawa Danjuro VIII in the role of Omatsuri Sashichi in a scene from kabuki theater. The cartouche at the upper right holds the series and image title "Mitate Tsuki Zukushi: Musashi no Tsuki" (Collection of the Full Moon Parodied: The Moon over Musashi). The lower left corner of the image holds the seal of the publisher Heirindo, the censor/date seals for 1856, and the signature "Toy...

Japanese Edo period woodblock print by Toyokuni III (also known as Kunisada) depicting the actor Onoe Kikugoro III as Mashiba Hisayoshi. This image is Station 55: "Kyoto" from the series "Actors at the Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido" published by Tsujiokaya Bunsuke in 1852/3. Very nice impression quality and color. The date and censor's seals, carver's seal, and signature of "Toyokuni ga" (in a red cartouche with yellow snow) are at the left. Measures 14 5/8"V x 10"H. Very good overall ...

Japanese Edo period woodblock print by Toyokuni III (also known as Kunisada) depicting the actor Ichikawa Danjuro VIII in the role of Daiku Yoshiro. This image is Station 45: "Ishiyakuchi" from the series "Actors at the Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido" published by Tsutaya Kichizo in 1852/3. Very nice impression quality and color. The date and censor's seals, carver's seal, and signature of "Toyokuni ga" (in a red cartouche with blue snow) are at the right. The publisher's seal is at the...

Japanese Edo period woodblock print by Toyokuni III (also known as Kunisada) depicting the actor Bando Mitsugoro III in the role of Kumagai Jiro Naozane. This image is Station 23 from the series "Actors at the Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido" published by Tsujiokaya Bunsuke in 1852/3. Very nice impression quality with mica highlights. The black robe is overprinted with patterns using lacquer highlights. Signed "Toyokuni ga" (in a red cartouche with yellow snow). Measures 14"V x 9 1/2"H....

Edo Period Japanese woodblock print by Toyokuni III (also known as Kunisada) dated 1854 depicting a beauty of the nobility practicing the art of painting. Signed at the left "Toyokuni ga" in a red cartouche surrounded with yellow snow." 14 3/8"V x 10"H. Very good color and in clean overall condition with lacquer and embossed highlights. The print is not backed and the baren marks and image are clearly visible on the back. No tape or tape stains. There is a tiny bit of thinning at the upper left...