Japanese Woodblock Print, originally published 1835, this 1910s edition published by Hashiguchi Goyo, with Goyo seal in lower right corner.

SIZE IN INCHES: chuban, 7.5 x 11 inches

COMMENTS: In the 1910s Hashiguchi Goyo undertook the task of recreating the greatest ukiyo-e prints and combining them into a multi-book compendium. The quality of Goyo's reproductions is considered among the finest ever. By the end of the decade he would also produce what are often considered the finest shin-hanga bijin-ga prints of the 20th century.

KUNISADA UTAGAWA (TOYOKUNI III) (1786-1865) was born near Edo (Tokyo) the son of an affluent merchant with a ferry boat license. At the age of fifteen he joined the art school of Utagawa Toyokuni and took the name Kunisada. In 1807 the young artist produced his first illustrated book. And in 1808 his first actor prints were published. His fame grew quickly, and he was successful from the beginning. He would go on to become the most commercially successful woodblock printmaker ever. His early success may not have had a good influence on his personality. He had a reputation for being conceited, but during his lifetime Kunisada Utagawa was considered to be the best print designer by his contemporaries. He was more popular than Hiroshige, Hokusai, Kuniyoshi, and even his teacher Toyokuni I.

Fine, no flaws