Utagawa Toyokuni Wall Decorations

Japanese, 1769-1825

Utagawa Toyokuni[a] (歌川豊国; 1769 – 24 February 1825), also often referred to as Toyokuni I, to distinguish him from the members of his school who took over his gō (art-name) after he died, was a great master of ukiyo-e, known in particular for his kabuki actor prints. He was the second head of the renowned Utagawa school of Japanese woodblock artists, and was the artist who elevated it to the position of great fame and power it occupied for the rest of the nineteenth century. He was born, the son of Kurahashi Gorobei, a carver of dolls and puppets, including replicas of kabuki actors. At around 14, Toyokuni was apprenticed to the first head of the Utagawa house, Utagawa Toyoharu, whom his father knew well and who lived nearby. One of his fellow pupils under Toyoharu was Toyohiro, whose pupil was the great landscape artist Hiroshige. In recognition of his artistic ability, Toyokuni later took the name Utagawa Toyokuni, following the common practice of using one syllable of his master's name. Toyokuni seems not to have been an "intuitive genius"determined to forge a new path; rather, he seems to have studied intently those who came before him, particularly Utamaro, Chōbunsai Eishi and Eishōsai Chōki and through a great deal of hard work produced first a mastery, and then a synthesis of their styles, to create a style of his own. He was known mostly for his prints related to the kabuki theatre, in particular his yakusha-e actor portraits, a field which he took to new heights. He also, however, produced other genres such as musha-e warrior prints, shunga erotica, and most notably bijin-ga. In his actor prints, like Sharaku, one sees the real subject; but his prints merely portrayed what he saw, unlike Sharaku who exaggerated those aspects he saw as the most key. It is said of Toyokuni's prints that they recreate exactly what one would see on stage; they show actors acting, not merely just pictures of actors. Together, these characteristics made Toyokuni's prints far more popular among theatre-goers than Sharaku's, although history has come to judge Sharaku the keener observer and greater artist. His popularity and prolific output may in part have been his undoing, though. From 1803 through 1817, his work became more static, even as it became more popular. He continued to produce large quantities of prints, but the quality as a rule did not match that of his earlier days. Occasional prints from this period, however, show his old brilliance

Creator: Utagawa Toyokuni

Antique Japanese Woodblock by Utagawa Toyokuni l, 1816

$1,336

Antique Japanese Woodblock by Utagawa Toyokuni l, 1816

By Utagawa Toyokuni

Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland

Antique Japanese Woodblock – Utagawa Toyokuni l – 1816 (Honjo, Edo Period 1786-1865 Edo), Diptych, Actors Bandô Mitsugorô (R) and Ichikawa Danjûrô (L) Date: Japanese, Edo period Pro...

Category

19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Utagawa Toyokuni Wall Decorations

Materials

Paper

Antique Japanese turnip painting fragment / Pre-Edo / Wabi-sabi framed art

$900

H 12.6 in W 24.57 in D 1.19 in

Antique Japanese turnip painting fragment / Pre-Edo / Wabi-sabi framed art

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

This piece is a fragment of an old Japanese painting, cut out and mounted in a frame. It is thought to have originally been part of a folding screen or hanging scroll, and depicts a ...

Category

19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Utagawa Toyokuni Wall Decorations

Materials

Wood, Paper

Utagawa Kunisada Woodblock Print, Edo Period, 1859, Framed Kabuki

$1,120Sale Price|20% Off

H 19 in W 14.75 in D 1 in

Utagawa Kunisada Woodblock Print, Edo Period, 1859, Framed Kabuki

By Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III)

Located in Miami, FL

A fine, professionally framed original Japanese woodblock print attributed to the master Utagawa Kunisada (1786 – 1865), also known as Utagaw...

Category

19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Utagawa Toyokuni Wall Decorations

Materials

Wood, Paper

Japanese Screen Painting, Circa 1700 'Tales of Ise' by Tosa Mitsusuke

$24,500

H 28 in W 91 in D 1 in

Japanese Screen Painting, Circa 1700 'Tales of Ise' by Tosa Mitsusuke

By Tosa Mitsusuke 1

Located in Kyoto, JP

A six-fold Japanese screen by Tosa Mitsusuke (1675-1710), Japan 17th-18th century, Edo period. The signature reads Shoroku-i ge Tosa sa Konoe Shogen Mit...

Category

Late 17th Century Japanese Edo Antique Utagawa Toyokuni Wall Decorations

Materials

Gold Leaf

19th Century Japanese Scroll Painting by Igarashi Chikusa, Poppies & Butterflies

$4,800

H 68 in W 18 in D 1 in

19th Century Japanese Scroll Painting by Igarashi Chikusa, Poppies & Butterflies

Located in Kyoto, JP

Poppies & Butterflies Ink, pigment and gofun on silk Igarashi Chikusa (1774-1844) Signature: Chikusa Ran Zen Upper Seal: Ran Shuzen Lower Seal: Kyoho Dimensions: Scroll: H. 68” x W. 18” (172cm x 45cm) Image: H. 38.5’’ x W. 12.5’’ (98cm x 32cm) This composition shows elegant images of poppies and the butterflies that are inevitably drawn to them. It captures a momentary glimpse into a world both visually dazzling and startlingly realistic. The painting is infused with sensitivity and attention to seasonal change and weather conditions. The thin and fragile poppies are beautifully depicted with brilliant colors and the butterflies are similarly infused with life. The painting is on silk which requires extremely precise painting skills as no element once painted can be removed. Poppies were a favorite subject of Rinpa school artists through the ages. Originally they were somewhat abstracted but by the age of Sakai Hoitsu...

Category

Early 19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Utagawa Toyokuni Wall Decorations

Materials

Silk

19th Century Japanese Silk Painting by Kano Chikanobu, Turtles & Azalea

$4,500

H 45.5 in W 19.5 in D 0.01 in

19th Century Japanese Silk Painting by Kano Chikanobu, Turtles & Azalea

Located in Kyoto, JP

Birds & flowers of the seasons Pheasants & plum in snow Unframed painting. Ink, pigment and gofun on silk Kano Chikanobu 1819-1888 Signature...

Category

Mid-19th Century Asian Edo Antique Utagawa Toyokuni Wall Decorations

Materials

Silk

Vintage Japanese Woodblock Print

$1,250

H 16 in W 19.25 in D 1.75 in

Vintage Japanese Woodblock Print

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Exuding serene elegance, this vintage Japanese woodblock print features a captivating depiction of a gracefully seated woman rendered in a striking palette of deep black and vibrant ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Anglo-Japanese Utagawa Toyokuni Wall Decorations

Materials

Wood, Paint, Glass

19th Century Japanese Silk Painting by Kano Chikanobu, Peacock & Bamboo

$4,500

H 46 in W 19.5 in D 0.01 in

19th Century Japanese Silk Painting by Kano Chikanobu, Peacock & Bamboo

Located in Kyoto, JP

Birds & Flowers of the Seasons Pheasants & Plum in Snow Unframed painting. Ink, pigment and gofun on silk Kano Chikanobu 1819-1888 Signature...

Category

Mid-19th Century Asian Edo Antique Utagawa Toyokuni Wall Decorations

Materials

Silk

Pair of Japanese panels XIX e century Utagawa Toyokuni

$1,600 / item

H 36 in W 16 in D 0.75 in

Pair of Japanese panels XIX e century Utagawa Toyokuni

Located in Miami, FL

Pair of Japanese pieces XIX century Utagawa Toyokuni Two bijin-ga prints Kakémono sized Nishiki-e ink and colors on paper Circa 1840 Framed .

Category

Mid-19th Century Japanese Japonisme Antique Utagawa Toyokuni Wall Decorations

Materials

Paper

Japanese Edo Period Festival Screen, c. 1750

$9,280

H 23.75 in W 143.5 in D 0.75 in

Japanese Edo Period Festival Screen, c. 1750

Located in Chicago, IL

This 18th century folding screen is a stunning example of Japanese artistry. Beautifully painted with delicate brushwork, the evocative sc...

Category

Mid-18th Century Japanese Edo Antique Utagawa Toyokuni Wall Decorations

Materials

Paper

Pair of Antique Japanese Paintings of Karashishi, Edo Period, 18th Century

$50,000 / set

H 77.96 in W 48.04 in D 3.15 in

Pair of Antique Japanese Paintings of Karashishi, Edo Period, 18th Century

Located in Prahran, Victoria

A rare pair of antique Japanese Karashishi paintings in a landscape of rocks and peony flowers on gold leaf ground in fine handmade frames, Edo period, early 18th century. The Karash...

Category

Early 18th Century Japanese Edo Antique Utagawa Toyokuni Wall Decorations

Materials

Gold Leaf

Japanese Screen Painting, Early 19th Century, Autumn Flowers by Sakai Hoitsu

$34,500

H 18 in W 56 in D 1 in

Japanese Screen Painting, Early 19th Century, Autumn Flowers by Sakai Hoitsu

Located in Kyoto, JP

A two-fold Japanese screen by the Rimpa school artist Sakai Hoitsu (1761-1828), Japan, 19th century, Edo period. This small Japanese folding screen pai...

Category

Early 19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Utagawa Toyokuni Wall Decorations

Materials

Wood, Silk

Antique Japanese Buddhist pagoda hanging scroll /Buddhist painting/Edo

$800

H 45.48 in W 12.01 in D 0.79 in

Antique Japanese Buddhist pagoda hanging scroll /Buddhist painting/Edo

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

This is a slightly different Buddhist painting believed to have been created by a Japanese temple monk during the Edo period (late 17th to 19th century). Rendered in ink on paper, th...

Category

18th Century Japanese Edo Antique Utagawa Toyokuni Wall Decorations

Materials

Paper

Utagawa Toyokuni wall decorations for sale on 1stDibs.

Utagawa Toyokuni wall decorations are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of paper and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Utagawa Toyokuni wall decorations, although gray editions of this piece are particularly popular. Prices for Utagawa Toyokuni wall decorations can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $1,902 and can go as high as $1,902, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,902.