"Enshoku Sanju-Roku Kasen" (Thirty-Six Enchanting Flowers) Woodblock on Paper by Toyohara Kunichika

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"Enshoku Sanju-roku Kasen" (Thirty-six Enchanting Flowers) Woodblock on paper

Elegant woodblock print by Toyohara Kunuchika (Japanese, 1835-1900). Three women are … Read more "Enshoku Sanju-roku Kasen" (Thirty-six Enchanting Flowers) Woodblock on paper

Elegant woodblock print by Toyohara Kunuchika (Japanese, 1835-1900). Three women are in talking with each other inside, while a man waits outside holding a bag of some kind. The colors in this piece are rich and saturated, primarily blues, greens, and purple.

Mat size: 16"H x 20"W
Paper size: 14.75"H x 9.88"W

Born in 1835, Toyohara Kunichika grew up in the Kyobashi district of Edo in the midst of merchants and artisans. In 1848, at age 13, he was accepted as an apprentice into the studio of Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III 1786–1865).

Kunichika's work stands in contrast to that of many of his contemporaries as he persistently held onto the traditional style and subject matter of the classic Japanese woodcut, unaffected by new Western forms of art. His love of Kabuki inspired him to depict actors in their various roles and varying facial expressions. His skillful use of color and ability to translate the actor's depth of emotion onto the page makes his work some of the most dramatic ever produced. Later on in his career, Kunichika turned primarily to the triptych format as the increased size gave him the space to fully portray the drama and action of the characters represented. See less