KINOJI ZUKUSHI KICHIHOGEN MINA ZURUHIME　in 1861

by TOYOKUNI III

The characters depicted in the actor print from the *nishiki-e* series *Ki-no-ji Zukushi* (Kiichi Hōgan, played by Bandō Kamezō; Minazuru-hime, played by Sawamura Tanosuke).

Approx. 38 x 25 cm

Utagawa Toyokuni III: Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1865)

His original name was Utagawa Kunisada (the first).
He enjoyed a very long artistic career spanning the Bunka through Genji eras; after becoming a leading pupil of Toyokuni, he began using the name Kunisada.
His pseudonyms included Ichiosai, Gototei, Kochoro, Kinraisha, Kitabaido, Tomibosanjin, Tomiboan, Tojuen, Getsuharo, Kiou, Ukiyo Matahei, and Bukiyo Matahei.
Possessing an excellent sense of the spirit of the times, he achieved immense popularity through his actor portraits—which captured the realism of the theater—and his paintings of beautiful women, which illustrated the decadent atmosphere and refinement of the late Edo period.
The scale of his body of work reflects his popularity; on this basis, he began calling himself "Toyokuni II" in 1844.
Although he gained recognition among his students for this claim, another pupil, Toyoshige, had actually already inherited the title of Toyokuni II; consequently, he is now regarded as Toyokuni III.

UKIYO E (Japanese print)