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ACTOR ICHIKAWA DANJÛRÔ VIII AS FUKUOKA MITSUGI
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UTAGAWA KUNISADA
(1786 - 1865)
ACTOR ICHIKAWA DANJÛRÔ VIII AS FUKUOKA MITSUGI, 1852

Colour woodblock print, 1852, from the series in vertical ôban Seven Flourishing Plants on Lanterns for Summer Evenings. Published by Ibaya Senzaburô. Signed Toyokuni ga, in toshidama cartouche. Publisher mark. Censors’ seals: Fuku, Muramatsu. Date seal for the sixth month of the Rat year 1852. Blockcutter's mark: Hori Take.
Very good impression and colour. 349 x 246 mm.

Kunisada became a pupil of Toyokuni at the age of 15. In 1807 the young artist produced his first illustrated book, and in 1808 his first actor prints were published. His fame grew fast. While other artists like Kuniyoshi or Hiroshige had to fight for recognition for years, he was successful from the beginning. Kunisada designed a wide spectrum of traditional ukiyo-e subjects like kabuki themes, beautiful women, historical events and quite a few erotic prints. He made few landscapes. In 1825 Toyokuni I had died. Later in 1844 Kunisada decided to take the name of his master and called himself Toyokuni.