Title: "The Gate Keeper, Sakuramaru". Signed By: (Toyokuni) Kunisada 1785-1865. Publisher's seal: Yebisu-ya with "Kiwame" Seal. Descriptive Title: Sakuramaro- name of Gate Keeper. Kunisada's work signed with his later name of Toyokuni are not very good. In his later years he did no more than the first outline drawing of a print, leaving his pupils to carry out the color scheme, and exercising no supervision of his printers. There are inumerable actor-portraits of his.
This station is called Yoshida. A bridge is over the Toyo River: The print is a variation. The two artists Hiroshige and Toyokuni are in collaboration for this print. Upper part consists of a Tokaido view by Hiroshige, and the lower part, large figures are illustrative of legends by Kunisada, over the signature of Toyokuni. Dorothy H. Riddle Japanese Woodblock Print Collection
Title: "Woman Before the Koto". Publisher's Seal: Mankyu (?). Woman about to sit down before her musical instrument- the harp (koto). The colors of her dressing indicate her to be an elderly woman. Upper section: Famous poem from one of the "Karuto" playing cards. The drawing inserted in the fan is from the cards.
Title:"An Actor as a Warrior" Signed. Publisher's Seal: Tsuta-ya. Kunisada is chief pupil of Toyokuni. His production fo actor prints are considered even greater than his master. There is no particular actor's name printed on this sheet. One of the warriors with a "hachimaki" (band) around his head. Sword in right hand. In fighting, the right shoulder outer garment is stripped, so the difference in color can be noted.
Title: "The Warrior Hyoe". Publisher's Seal: (Engravers seal only). Although this work is signed Toyokuni, it can be distinguished as Kunisada's because the signature is enclosed in a cartouche, a device never employed by the great master Toyokuni (the red seal in the upper left corner.)
Plate #22 from "53 Stations by Two Brushes" Okabe. Publisher's Seal: Marukyu. This place is called Okabe. The 22nd stop. This is a variation from the key form. The two artists, Hiroshige and Kunisada are in collaboration for this print. Upper part consists of a snow view by Hiroshige, and the lower part, the large figure of a warrior by Kunisado, over the signature of Toyokuni.
Title: "Woman on Clogs". Kunisada signed his prints Toyokuni after 1844. Kunisada's prints after 1844 are considered crude and harsh. This picture illustrates a woman on high rain-time clogs. The plum blossoms indicate late winter. A fancy bamboo fence stretches across print.
Title: "An October Tea Ceremony" or "Yoshiwara, Events of the Year, 10th Month". Publisher's Seal: Wakasaya "Kiwame" Seal. "Oiran" in the foreground. The drawing in the circle illustrates the event of that month. A tea ceremony.
Title:"Bandit" Signed. Engraver's seal only. Of the Utagawa School, Kunisada was the best known, on account of his enormous productivity. This is how a mountain robber looked and acted in feudalistic times.
