Japanese Edo period woodblock print by Kunisada, also known as Toyokuni III (1786-1864), depicting the actor Ichikawa Danzo VI in a kabuki performance, published by Kagiya Shobei in 1861. This is one of an untitled series of half-length portraits of actors with poems and still life scenes at the top. Signed at the left "Toyokuni ga" in a red cartouche with yellow snow. Paper: 14 1/8" x 9 5/8" (image: nearly 13 1/2" x over 9 1/8"). Very good color and overall condition with margins evident...

Antique Japanese woodblock print in triptych by the artist Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1864) depicting a scene from the Kabuki play "Koharu no Mitsugumi Sakazuki". Here, the outlaw murdurer, Shirai Gonpachi (left) is challenged by the famous otokodate (dashing hero), Banzui Chobei (center and with his traditional brown and white plaid fabric).

Kunisada was born to a family that owned a ferry boat service allowing him the time and money to devote to art...

Antique Japanese woodblock print by the artist, Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1864) depicting a scene from a Kabuki play titled "Izayoi Seishin". This is the extortion scene where the character, Seikichi (aka Seishin), seen here in traveler's hat, sends his wife, Osayo to ask the lady Ofuji (Shobei nyobo O-fuji) for money. Osayo was once a high ranking courtesan...

Antique Japanese woodblock print of a Kabuki actor with an ornately lacquered cart, scene from play. Signed Gototei Kunisada ga. From 1811-1844 Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III) used the name Gototei Kunisada.

Kunisada was born to a family that owned a ferry boat service allowing him the time and money to devote to art. At an early age, he impressed the great master, Toyokuni I of the Utagawa school. He became his apprentice, officially adopting the name Kunisada around 1807...

Japanese antique woodblock print by Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III) (1786–1864) titled: Night Rain at Hirefuri Peak (Hirefuri-mine yoru no ame): Actors Iwai Kumesaburô III (?) as Ôtomo's Daughter (Sokujo) Wakana-hime (R) and Nakamura Shikan IV as Toriyama Shûsaku Terutada (L), from the series Eight Views of Shiranui (Shiranui hakkei no uchi).

Kunisada was born to a family that owned a ferry boat service allowing him the time and money to devote to art...

First edition Japanese Meiji Period woodblock print titled "Otsu Inari" from the series "The Calendar of Events in Edo Theater" by Adachi Ginko (1874-1897). Three editions of this series are known. This print is from the first edition and contains the publisher's information and date of Meiji 30 (1897) 7th month 10th day in the left margin and the artist's red seal at the lower right...

Japanese Edo period woodblock print triptych by Toyokuni III (aka Kunisada) featuring the actors Kawarazaki Gonjuro, Nakamura Shikan, and Ichikawa Shinsha in a scene from kabuki theater published by Noshuya Yasubei in 1861. Each panel holds the actor's name in a cartouche at the top and at the bottom, the artist's "Toyokuni ga" signature in a red cartouche with yellow snow, the censor's seals, and the publisher's seal...

Japanese Edo period woodblock print triptych by Toyokuni III (aka Kunisada) illustrating a scene from kabuki theater with actors depicting a street vendor selling sake to a young man disguised as a Buddhist monk while a story-teller approaches from the right. Published by Minatoya Kohei in 1852/53. Each panel holds the artist's "Toyokuni ga" signature in a red cartouche with yellow snow, the censor's seals, and the publisher's seal...

First edition Japanese Meiji Period woodblock print titled "The Curtain and the Announcements" from the series "The Calendar of Events in Edo Theater" co-designed by Adachi Ginko (1874-1897) and Torii Kiyosada (1844-1901). Three editions of this series are known. This print is from the first edition and contains the publisher's information and date of Meiji 30 (1897) 1st month 11th day in the left margin. Ginko's red seal is on the bottom of the curtain...

First edition Japanese Meiji Period woodblock print titled "Pubic Reading (Yomitate)" from the series "The Calendar of Events in Edo Theater" co-designed by Adachi Ginko (1874-1897) and Torii Kiyosada (1844-1901). Three editions of this series are known. This print is from the first edition and contains the publisher's information and date of Meiji 30 (1897) 4th month in the left margin. Kiyosada's signature can be found on the billboard at the upper left...

Fine earthenware vase of satsuma decorated with excellently drawn dancers. The positions of the bodies, the volumes and the perfect impression of movement announce a very good painter. Unfortunately it is anonymous because there is no signature. Good condition. Height about 40cm.

Edo Period Japanese woodblock print by Kunisada, also known as Toyokuni III (1786-1864), depicting actors portraying the Heian period samurai Abe no Muneto and a beauty in a scene from kabuki theater. This is one of a number of double half-length portraits of actors designed by Kunisada in 1852. Published by Iseya Kanekichi. Signed at the left "Toyokuni ga" in a red cartouche with yellow snow...

The kabuki actors Otani Tomoemon V (left), Nakamura Shikan IV (center), and Ichikawa Kuzo III (right) in a scene from the play Oshu Adachigahara. This Edo period Japanese woodblock print triptych by Toyohara Kunichika (1835-1900) was published by Izutsuya Shokichi in 1865. Each panel measures about 14 1/8" x 9 5/8." Very good color and impression quality with strong wood grain evident in the background. The print is not backed and the image and baren marks are clearly visible on the back. T...

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...

Deluxe edition Japanese Meiji period woodblock print by Torii Kiyotada VII, also known as Tadakiyo, (1875-1941) depicting the kabuki actor Ichikawa Danjuro IX portraying Fudo Myoo from the series "The Eighteen Great Kabuki Plays" published by Hasegawa in 1896. The series title extends across the top of the image. The artist's Tadakiyo signature and red jar seal are at the lower left. The upper right holds the Ichikawa family mimasu (three nested squares) crest with the name of the actor Ichik...

Original Japanese color woodblock print in the dai oban size by the Japanese artist Natori Shunsen (1886-1960), showing Kataoka Nizaemon XIII as Momoi Wakasanosuke in the Chushingura play from the series "Portraits of Male Actors in Various Roles". Published in 1953 by Watanabe Shozaburo with mica background. Signed Shunsen with artist's seal Shunsen, red circular publisher's seal Watanabe, titled and dated Showa 28 in the margin. Dimension: paper 37.9 cm x 26.1 cm, image: 37.1 cm x 25.2 cm. Co...

1st edition Japanese woodblock print by Natori Shunsen (1886-1960) depicting the actor Nakamura Ganjiro in the role of Sakata Tojuro from the series "Creative Prints, Collection of Portraits by Shunsen" (1925-1931). This image was known to have been published by Watanabe in 1925 in an edition limited to 150 impressions. The black recangular "Watanabe-ko" seal is at the right side and the red ovoid "Natori" approval seal is at the lower left. These seals are only found on first edition impressio...

Japanese Edo period woodblock print by Toyokuni I (1769-1825) depicting the kabuki actor Nakamura Utaemon III portraying a sake peddler encountering a dog from a set of eight prints published by Yamamoto Heikichi in 1815. Kiwame censor’s seal. Paper size: 14" x just under 10." Very good overall condition and color with some typical minor wear. There is wormage evident that is well disguised and stabilized by an album backing. The print is tipped at the top two corners to a backing sheet b...