Edutainment > Signatures of Kunisada Utagawa (1786-1865)

Kunisada Biography
Toyokuni ga
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Kunisada Utagawa (1786-1865) was a prolific and leading ukiyo-e artist of the first half of the 19th century - the late Edo period. As most of the Japanese print artists of the Edo period. He used a confusing number of names and signatures. This illustrated page tries to give a little bit of help.

The images on this page are link-sensitive and take you to other articles or web sites in which you might be interested.

The Kunisada Name and Signature Mess

Japanese ukiyo-e artists could have cared less about all the mess and trouble that they caused to future generations of collectors of their art works by changing their names several times during their life times.

No matter how much you love old Japanese prints, for beginners of the art it is a real nuisance. My personal advice: It is tough to become an expert. If you are not the type for this kind of "inaccurate science", then rely on a trustworthy ukiyo-e-dealer.

Kunisada made no exception in this messy play. For me it was the straw that broke the camel's neck, when I learned many years ago that Kunisada had taken the name of Toyokuni II, although he knew that this name was already taken - by his intimate enemy, Toyoshige. But that is a different story - maybe for another article to be published one day on this site.

Signatures of Kunisada I (1786-1865)

The following illustrated list is a wrap-up from our database of ukiyo-e signatures. In this database we have collected relevant signatures by Japanese ukiyo-e artists since 2001, the year of our foundation. The images on display were taken from sold Japanese woodblock prints by Kunisada Utagawa.

Gototei

Kunisada Prints
gototei kunisada ga
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Ukiyoe- Signatures
gototei kunisada ga
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Kunisada used the name Gototei ca. 1811-1844.

Kunisada

Kunisada Utagawa
oju kunisada ga
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This signature and the name Kunisada was used between 1801 and 1844.

Changing from Kunisada to Toyokuni?

Toyokuni I
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Possible meanings of this signature are:

1. "Giving up or changing Kunisada to Toyokuni"?
2. or "Toyokuni of the Kunisada (or Kokutei) Studio"?

Toyokuni

In 1844 Kunisada changed his name to Toyokuni - today referred to as Toyokuni III. After his name change he used a variety of signatures as seen here. The round, red circle that looks like a jewel is the seal of the Utagawa School. This seal is called toshidama.

The signature toyokuni ga was used by Toyokuni II before (Toyoshige or known as Hongo Toyokuni, 1777-1835).

The Japanese word azumamoto means "requested by publisher", oju means "by special request" and ninko stands for "by my own taste".

Utagawa School
toyokuni ga
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Kunisada Danjuro
azumamoto no oju toyokuni ga
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Utagawa Artists
kochoro toyokuni ga
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Ukiyo-e Terms
ichiyosai toyokuni ga
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Ukiyo-e
ninko toyokuni ga
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Ukiyo-e Artists
utagawa toyokuni ga
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Toyokuni - 77/79 Years Old

"kio" means "77 years old". Kunisada used these signatures in 1862 when he was 77 years old, respectively two years later when he had reached the age of 79 (1864-65), the age when he passed away. "Sai" stands for "years old".

Ukiyo-e Books
kio toyokuni ga
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Ukiyo-e Glossary
kio toyokuni hitsu
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Ukiyoe
79 sai toyokuni hitsu
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Warning: More Kunisadas

Please note that Kunisada I was followed by Kunisada II and by Kunisada III. These guys too, used signatures that are similar by nature. I told you before, the genre of ukiyo-e is a messy science!

Dieter Wanczura
(September 2009)

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