Toyokuni I (1769 - 1825 )
The son of a puppet sculptor, Toyokuni was born and worked in Edo. Entering the studio of Toyoharu at the age of 14, Toyokuni drew inspiration from the famous contemporary artists around him, particularly from the great Utamaro. Toyokuni produced elegant courtesans, fine actor prints, book illustrations, and paintings. He had a strong reputation during his lifetime and taught a host of talented students, including Kunisada and Kuniyoshi.
Considered one of the most influential ukiyo-e print artists, Toyokuni catapulted the Utagawa school to fame and completed remarkable work depicting beautiful women and kabuki actors. During the early 1790s, his works focused on courtesans. His beauties bear an elegance and idealism indicative of the period. These works set a standard for bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women) to come. Through the 1790s and 1800s, Toyokuni not only captured actors’ stage roles, but also their private lives and individual personalities in his yakusha-e (actor prints).
Ukiyo-e | Japanese Woodblock Prints | Ronin Gallery
Explore the largest collection of 17th-19th century original Japanese woodblock prints in the United States at Ronin Gallery. Ukiyo-e, or “pictures of the floating world,” captured the exciting urban popular culture of the Edo period (1603-1868), promoting its beauty, fashions and heroes. While the Buddhist term ukiyo originally emphasized the transitory nature of human life, during the 17th century the term gradually shifted its reference to the ephemeral world of pleasure and indulgence. From 17th century Buddhist woodcuts through 19th century Japanese ukiyo-e print masters, enter a vibrant world of enchanting landscapes and sublime nature studies by Hokusai and Hiroshige, dramatic kabuki actors by Sharaku and Toyokuni, fierce samurai by Kuniyoshi, and elegant beauties by Utamaro. With the ravages of time, war and fire, today few of these precious original Japanese woodblock prints survive outside of museums and important private collections.
25 Products
Toyokuni I
Matsumoto Koshiro as Igami-no-Gonta and Matsutaro
JP2005
Toyokuni I
Kabuki Actor Segawa Senjo as Sushiya Osato
JPR-209555
Toyokuni I
Kabuki Actor Nakamura Utaemon III as Shikan
JPR5455
Toyokuni I
Kabuki Actor Onoe Kikugoro as Shohei's Wife Otsuru
JP-107610
Toyokuni I
Kabuki Actors Ichikawa Omezo and Iwai Kumesaburo
JP1-46251
Toyokuni I
Kabuki Actor Ichikawa Omezo as Watanabe no Tsuna and Onoe Matsusuke as the Spirit of Earth Spider
JPR-109888