Framed Japanese Ukiyo-E Woodblock Print by Utagawa Toyokuni III (Kunisada)

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A haunting and emotionally resonant Japanese woodblock print by Utagawa Toyokuni III, also known as Kunisada, one of the most … Read more A haunting and emotionally resonant Japanese woodblock print by Utagawa Toyokuni III, also known as Kunisada, one of the most prolific and celebrated artists of the Utagawa school. Likely produced between 1844 and the 1860s, this original, mid-19th-century ukiyo-e print captures a powerful theatrical moment steeped in drama, ritual, and grief.
At the center of the composition is a ghostly woman with cascading black hair and a boldly patterned kimono, reaching toward a tattooed monk who appears slumped in sorrow or at the edge of death. Stylized waves surround them, adding to the scene’s emotional tension and suggesting supernatural elements common in kabuki theater and Edo-period storytelling. Behind them, a third figure in red crouches with her face hidden, visibly overcome, perhaps mourning the man’s passing or witnessing the return of a spirit.
The vertical inscription at right reads “香蝶楼 豊国画” (Kōchōrō Toyokuni ga), which translates to “drawn by Toyokuni (Kōchōrō),” a name used by Kunisada after he succeeded the title of Toyokuni III in 1844. The small red circle, while visually reminiscent of a Zen ensō, is in fact part of the artist’s seal design, not a religious symbol. Beneath this, another vertical cartouche credits the woodblock carver: 彫工 庄次郎 (Horikō Shōjirō), an artisan responsible for carving the artist’s design into wood.
The print is archivally matted and professionally framed in a brushed silver-tone frame and is ready to hang. A label on the reverse misattributes the work to Toyokuni I (1769–1825), a common Western error from earlier framing eras. Wired and ready to hang.
A visually and emotionally powerful example of Edo-period Japanese printmaking, this piece offers a dramatic glimpse into 19th-century kabuki culture and the collaborative artistry of woodblock design and carving.

Frame: 15.25" wide, .75" deep, and 20.25" high.
Approx. visible art: 8.5" wide and 9.25" high. See less