Antique Japanese Woodblock Print Aizuri-e by Utagawa Kunitomi -Onoe Baiko- Framed c.1830
Presented is a beautiful Japanese full oban-size woodblock print created by the renowned artist of the late Edo period, Utagawa Kunitomi (active 1810 - 1840)
Utagawa Kunitomi was a pupil of Toyokuni II and worked within the established traditions of the Utagawa school. His artistic output focused primarily on actor prints and bijin prints that reflect the prevailing ukiyo-e styles of the early nineteenth century. According to Laurance P. Roberts, Kunitomi's designs show close stylistic affinities with the works of Ikeda Eisen and Kunisada Utagawa. Around the year 1820, the artist is believed to have changed his name to "Tominobu".
Kunitomi was born in Edo (present-day Tokyo). His works covered mainly Kabuki theater actors and beauties from the Yoshiwara quarters. His style was characterized by bold lines, vibrant colors, and intricate details. He had a unique ability to capture the essence of his subjects, infusing them with energy and personality.
Please note - this prints is dominated by blue tones. This is called "aizuri-e" and it was very popular in Japan among the ukiyo-e afficionados in the 1820s - 1840s. It is closely linked to the introduction of a European innovation: Prussian blue. This synthetic pigment was invented in 1704 by the German chemist Johann Konrad Dippel (1673–1734) and was produced in Berlin from the early 18th century onward. Prussian blue provided a deeper and more stable blue than earlier pigments and allowed printers to use a wide tonal range, from pale light blue to deep, dark hues. .Around 1790, Prussian blue reached Japan through the Dutch trading post of Deshima. Initially, Prussian blue was costly and used mainly for paintings. After about 1820, prices declined, making the pigment accessible to ukiyo-e printmakers and publishers, who quickly recognized its artistic potential. During the late Edo period, aizuri-e were produced by leading ukiyo-e designers such as Hokusai, Hiroshige, Keisai Eisen, Kunisada, and Utagawa Sadahide. The new blue pigment was particularly valued for landscape prints, where large areas of sky, water, clouds, and distant scenery could be rendered with greater depth and atmosphere.
Kunitomi was a prolific artist, but his surviving works are incredibly rare and hard to find today
Several museums in the world have Kunitomi works:
Austrian Museum of Applied Arts, Vienna, Austria.
British Museum, London, UK.
Edo Tokyo Museum, Tokyo, Japan.
Library of Congress, Washington D.C., USA.
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, USA.
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
The print was made using the Japanese woodblock technique during the artist's lifetime.
It shows his signature "Kasentei Tominobu ga".
AUTHOR: Utagawa Kunitomi
TITLE: Onoe Baikō (Danfuku) (Actor Onoe Baiko IV in the role of Danfuku)
PUBLISHER: Iseya Kanekichi
CREATED: 1830
PAPER: washi paper
METHOD OF PRINTING: Woodblock printing
PRINTED: Lifetime printing circa 1830s
PRINT SIZE: visual 14.5" X 9.75"
FRAME SIZE: 20.5" X 15.5"
Condition: Great condition, nice colors, strong impression, no damages, losses, or repairs. The frame is worn. It is old and fragile be caotious. See the pictures for the details.
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