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Authentic 1867 Toyohara Kunichika Woodblock Print Ukiyo-e
$675
£512.45
€590.77
CA$954.88
A$1,028.02
CHF 550.52
MX$12,387.23
NOK 6,946.07
SEK 6,356.77
DKK 4,414.46
About the Item
A captivating, intense gaze from the final days of feudal Japan. This is not merely a portrait; it is a time capsule, capturing a moment of profound cultural transformation.
This authentic ukiyo-e woodblock print is a masterpiece by Toyohara Kunichika (1835-1900), one of the last great masters of the art form and a specialist in the dramatic world of Kabuki theatre. The print portrays the renowned onnagata (male actor in a female role) Kawarazaki Gonjuri, in the role of Omon. Kunichika, a devoted fan of the theatre, masterfully conveys the dramatic tension and stylised emotion of the Kabuki stage.
What makes this piece extraordinary is its precise date. It was created in August 1867 — a moment of "brutal sociopolitical upheaval" just three months before the fall of Japan's last Shogun and the end of the Edo period. This print is one of the last objects created for that fabled "floating world." In this very same year, Kunichika — ranked the #5 artist in Tokyo — was selected by the government to represent Japan at the 1867 Paris World's Fair, an event that ignited the West's obsession with Japonisme.
The print's revolutionary character is also visible in its very materials. The electric blue of the robes and the sharp orange of the headscarf are not traditional, fading vegetable dyes. They are "colours of progress" — newly imported German aniline pigments that Kunichika embraced to express the "flamboyant" energy of a new age. This cutting-edge technology is why the colours remain so astonishingly fresh today.
As a single panel from a triptych, this print represents a deeply authentic mode of collecting. In 19th-century Japan, these compositions were "often purchased separately", allowing patrons to acquire a portrait of their favourite star. This is a rare opportunity to own an accessible, self-contained, and beautifully framed work by a blue-chip artist from one of the most significant years in Japanese history.
Creator: Toyohara Kunichika (Japanese, 1835-1900)
Title: Kabuki Actor Kawarazaki Gonjuri as Omon
Date of Manufacture: August 1867 (Keiō 3, Year of the Rabbit, 8th Month)
Period: Late Edo / Bakumatsu
Style: Ukiyo-e, Yakusha-e (Actor Print)
Materials: Woodblock print (nishiki-e) on washi paper, aniline pigments.
Markings: Signed "Kunichika hitsu" (國周筆) with toshidama seal; date/censor seal "U hachi aratame" (卯八改).
Condition: Good.
Condition Report
This print is in good antique condition. The colours are exceptionally vibrant and fresh, characteristic of the stable aniline pigments from this period. The washi paper shows even, age-appropriate toning in the un-inked areas, consistent with its 19th-century origin. As is typical for a work of this age, a small tear and minor paper loss are visible in the upper left margin, but this is well outside the central image and does not detract from its powerful visual impact.
As seen in the photographs, this authentic print has been professionally conserved and housed in a modern, conservation-grade, "floated" frame, with an archival matte black frame, a wide, neutral acid-free mat, and AR70 antiglare and UV-resistant glass fitted.
- Creator:Toyohara Kunichika (Artist)
- Dimensions:Height: 18.9 in (48 cm)Width: 0.79 in (2 cm)Depth: 14.97 in (38 cm)
- Style:Edo (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Circa 1867
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:TORQUAY, AU
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU10657247444672
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