Beautiful Ukiyo-e Japanese album with prints by Toyokuni I, Kuniyasu and Kunisada dated c1820 – 1830

Beautiful Ukiyo-e Japanese album with prints by Toyokuni I, Kuniyasu and Kunisada dated c1820 – 1830

27 prints backed with firm boards and mounted in an accordion album with gold silk boards (some fraying to upper and lower margins of boards) – likely mounted in the late 19^th Century (360 x 242 mm)

Artists: Toyokuni I 歌川豊国 1769-1825 / Kuniyasu (歌川国安 1794–1832) / Kunisada (Toyokuni III) 歌川国貞 1786-1865

Tokyo [Edo] : Matsumura Tatsuemon (松村辰右衛門) / Kawaguchi Uhei (川口屋卯兵) / Uemura Yohei (上村与兵衛) / Maruya Bun’emon (丸屋文右衛門

2)

1) One print by Toyokuni I. Published by Matsumara Tatsuemon. Representing Iwai Shijaku (岩井紫若) by the actor Iwau Hanshiro VII (name adopted 1822-1844) 

2)     A triptych by Toyokuni I of the play: Oto ni kiku icho no kusemono (音菊高麗恋) realised in 1824 at the Nakamura theatre.

3)  A combat triptych signed by Kuniyasu  (Kuniyasuga, 国安画) and Toyokuni (Toyokuniga, 豊国画).

4)     A triptych by Kunisada representing the acteurs Onoe Kikugoro (尾上菊五郎), Iwai Hanshiro (岩井半四郎), and Ichikawa Danjuro (市川団十郎). Signed « Gototei Kunisadaga » (五渡亭国貞画, "Gototei" and published by Kawaguchi Uhei.

5)     A triptych of prints by Kunisada representing the actors Ichikawa Danjuro (市川団十郎), Ichikawa Monnosuke (市川門之助), and Segawa Kikunojo (瀬川菊之丞). Signed « Gototei Kunisadaga » (五渡亭国貞画). Published by Kawaguchi Uhei.

6)  A triptych by Kuniyasu of the play Futatsu Chocho Kuruwa Nikki  (双蝶々曲輪日記) realised in 1824. With the actors Iwai Hanshiro (岩井半四郎), Bando Mitsugoro (坂東三津五郎) and Ichikawa Danjuro (市川団十郎). Signed Kuniyasuga (国安画). Published by Uemura Yohei.

7)     A triptych series of Kunisada of the actors Bando Mitsugoro (坂東三津五郎), Ichikawa Danjuro (市川団十郎) and Iwai Hanshiro (岩井半四郎). Signed Gototei Kunisadaga (五渡亭国貞画). Published by Kawaguchi Uhei

8)     A 4-print series of Kuniyasu with the actors Bando Mitsugoro (坂東三津五郎), Iwai Shijaku (岩井紫若), Ichikawa Danjuro (市川団十郎), and Ichikawa Monnosuke (市川門之助). Signed Kuniyasuga (国安画). Published by Maruya Bun’emon

9)     A 4-print series by Utagawa Toyokuni I with the actors Seki Sanjuro (関三十郎), Iwai Kumesaburo (岩井粂三郎),  Onoe Kikugoro (尾上菊五郎), and Segawa Kikunojo (瀬川菊之丞). Signed  Toyokuniga » (豊国画). Published by Yamamoto Heikichi