#Kunisada Utagawa Art

[savage-kult-of-gorthaur]

THE STRIKING ARTISTRY OF THE KABUKI ACTOR'S PORTRAIT -- THE WIZARDRY OF THE TRADITIONAL WOODBLOCK PRINT.

PIC INFO: Spotlight on a woodblock print by illustrator Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III) of the Kabuki theater actor Ichikawa Ebizō V., playing the role of Usui Sadamitsu, the piece was reportedly published c. September 1863.

EXTRA INFO: "Featuring 200 prints by 89 artists, Taschen’s book "Japanese Woodblock Prints (1680-1983)" is a journey through two centuries of the art form. Ranging from depictions of everyday life to kabuki and erotica, the XXL edition is a 622-page art history lesson and a high-resolution visual compendium rolled into one."

-- TASCHEN BOOKS (luxury artbooks publisher)

Source: www.itsnicethat.com/articles/japanese-woodblock-prints-taschen-publication-021219 & Wikimedia.

[typhlonectes]

Utagawa Kunisada - A Crab on the Seashore, 19th c, Japan.⁣

[arthistoryanimalia]

More for #ILoveHorsesDay ❤️🐴:

Horses, a New Publication (Shimpan uma zukushi)

Color woodblock prints

c.1847-8 by Utagawa Hiroshige II (Japan, 1826–1869), 377x257mm

1874 by Utagawa Kunisada III (Japan, 1848–1920), 337x225mm

Legion of Honor Museum 1963.30.1472, 1963.30.5519

[lickthecowhappy]

Crowley and Kinoshin-zeki dine at Ritsu. Well, one dines and one watches.

This is based on "The Wrestlers Of Sumo Kuroiwa And Zogahana With A Geisha" by Utagawa Kunisada (C 1845). I saw it and I was like "well I guess I'm making another one."

Making heart eyes at one another.

[tanuki-kimono]

Hello! i saw your kimono drawing guide, and i have some questions. I saw this art and was wondering about a few things: what is the tied knot& tassel things on the sleeves for? and, what hairstyle is the lady wearing? If you know, please tell me! If you don't know, could it be possible to direct me to someone that might? Thank you for taking the time to answer, if you're able! Have a lovely night/day!

Hi and thank you for your question :) The ukiyoe you are sharing is by Utagawa Kunisada and titled Genji rokujo no hana (源氏六條の花), or "Cherry Blossoms at Genji's Rokujô Mansion". It is part of a three prints set:

It depicts an imaginary scenery from The tale of Genji, and the young lady playing with her pet cat is the princess Onna San no Miya.

Characters are not shown wearing period accurate clothes (from Heian era), but luscious Edo period attires. Because of her rank, the young princess is wearing what Edo princesses would, especially the trademark hairstyle named fukiya 吹輪.

You'll find below a translation from a costume photobook I did a while ago. Note the big bridge style front hairpin, and the drum like one in the back. Princesses from the buke (samurai class) would also have dangling locks called aikyôge (I also found the term okurege), but I am not sure kuge princesses (noble class) wore them too.

There is a whole dispute about this hairstyle, as we are not actually sure it was worn as such by actual princesses. This style may have in fact started as a somehow cliché bunraku/kabuki costume used to depict princesses (think a bit like Western Cinderella-types princess gowns). Nowadays, it is found only as a theater style, or worn by Maiko during Setsubun season.

For comparison, here is character Shizuka Gozen from kabuki play Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura:

As for the dangling cords, I covered those in a past ask about kamuro that you can find here (part 1 / part 2). TL:DR: I am still not sure what is the exact name for those decorations (kazari himo? sode no himo?).

But their use is pretty much linked to 3 things:

1) luck + protection (knots have auspicous meanings),

2) reinforcing weak points of garnment (here: sleeves wrist opening)

3) cuteness impact, as much like furisode (long sleeves kimono) those dangling ribbons were mostly seen on girls/young unmarried ladies by the Edo period

All the design elements chosen by Utagawa Kunisada for his Onna San no Miya stress own young and carefree she is still (which considering her narrative arc is in fact a bit sad... like all Genji Monogatari stories). BUT: bonus points for pet cat!

Hope that helps :)

[lionofchaeronea]

Dragon Woman during the Time of Empress Gensho, Kunisada, 1800

[internationalemeteorologie]

Utagawa Kunisada 

Ogiya uchi Hanaogi, Tamaya uchi Hanamurasaki, Matsubaya uchi Yosoi (The courtesans Hanaogi from the Ogiya house, Hanamurasaki from the Tamaya house and Yosoi from the Matsubaya house). ca. 1830

[classic-asian-art]

Poet and butterfly, published by Otaya Takichi by Utagawa Kunisada (colour woodblock print)

[the-cricket-chirps]

Utagawa Kunisada

Spider Woman

1853

[the-evil-clergyman]

The Horyu Tower: Shino and Genpachi by Utagawa Kunisada (1851-52)

[nishiki-e]

The Akashi Bathhouse, Utagawa Kunisada, 1850

[raiko-huyiro]

Utagawa Kunisada - Toyokuni III

1786-1865

Morita Kanya XI in the role of Saito Tarozaemon Toshiyuki.

1860

woodblock print

14 3/8 by 10 in.

36.5 by 25.3 cm.

Scholten Japanese Art presents “Strike a Pose: Spectacular Imagery of the Kabuki Theater,” an exhibition that brings together an array of imagery related to one of Japan’s most distinctive, and yet possibly least understood, cultural exports: the kabuki theater. The exhibition focuses on ukiyo-e woodblock prints portraying popular actors in lavish costumes on stage as well as relaxing off stage. On view September 8–16, and then again November 1–5 for Print Week, at 145 West 58th Street, Suite 6D.

[love1kimono]

Paysanne et enfant à Kakegawa, 26è station du Tokaido (Musée Guimet / MNAAG, Paris)

Kakegawa, 26è station ; au premier plan, une paysanne portant une bouilloire et un chapeau de paille dans le dos avec un jeune garçon

Sur la gauche, après le pont, on observe la présence d'un Tori-i ce qui indique la présence d'un sanctuaire. Au fond, au loin, le mont Akiba

Le Tokaido est la plus importante des 5 routes du Japon à l'époque d'Edo, elle relie Edo (Tokyo), lieu du pouvoir du Shogun à Kyoto, lieu de résidence de l'Empereur.

26è relais ou station : Kakegawa

(série : cinquante-trois stations du Tokaido)

Utagawa Hiroshige 1 (1797-1858)

Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) (1786-1865)

Époque d'Edo (1603-1868)

1854-1857

Éditeur : Maruya Kyushiro

Estampe japonaise polychrome (nishiki-e)

Collection Leskowicz, Paris

[arthistoryanimalia]

#FrogFriday 🐸:

Utagawa Kunisada 歌川国貞 (Toyokuni III) (Japan, 1786-1864)

Portrait of kabuki actor Sawamura Sojuro V as Nippon Daemon, 1864

Series: Toyokuni kigo kijutsu kurabe (Contest of Toyokuni Brushwork Wizardry)

Color woodblock print, H38.80 x W26.70 cm

British Museum 2018,3021.207

image © The Trustees of the British Museum (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

[a-bit-of-japanology]

After Bathing Beauties - Genji

Utagawa Kunisada - 1864

"Furyu Gogyo no Uchi; Suisei"

The refreshing waterfall in the summer and prince Genji.

[izvletchenie]

Bukiyo Matabei (pseudonym of Utagawa Kunisada), Young Lord and Lady of the House, from Lingering Plum Scent in the Sleeping Chamber, vol. 1, 1841