Kuniyoshi’s Signatures

Below are typical signatures of Kuniyoshi’s from different years. Like most artists, his signature changed over time, and these changes may be used to date Kuniyoshi’s prints. Censor’s seals, the presence or absence of actors’ names, identifiable kabuki productions, and more nebulous stylistic considerations may also be used. The subject of dating Kuniyoshi’s prints is dealt with extensively in the book Kuniyoshi by Basil William Robinson (1961, Victoria and Albert Museum, London).

Kuniyoshi signed his name 國芳. However, his name is written as 国芳 in modern Japanese, the latter generally being more useful when searching the internet.

	Year: 1816 Signature: Saihôsha Kuniyoshi ga (採芳舎 國芳 画)
	Year: 1820 Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 画)
	Year: 1824 Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 画)
	Year: 1827 Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 画)
	Year: 1831 Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 画)
	Year: 1831 Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國よし 画) The “yoshi” character is written in hiragana as よし instead of the usual 芳.
	Year: 1832 Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 画)
	Year: 1833 Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 画)
	Year: 1834 Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 画)
	Year: 1836 Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 画)
	Year: 1836 Signature: Chô-ô-rô Kuniyoshi ga (朝櫻楼 國芳 画) in gourd-shaped cartouche
	Year: 1838 Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 画)
	Year: 1839 Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 画)
	Year: c. 1839 Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi giga (一勇斎 國芳戯画, playfully drawn by Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi)
	Year: c. 1839 Signature: Ichiyûsai hitsu (一勇斎 筆, drawn with brush by Ichiyûsai)
	Year: 1840 Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 画) with Toshidama seal
	Year: 1840 Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 画) in gourd-shaped Toshidama seal
	Year: c. 1840 Text: Gakô Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi (画工 一勇斎 國芳) “Gakô” translates as painter or as artist. This is not a signature; it is not in Kuniyoshi’s handwriting.
	Year: 1841 Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 画)
	Year: 1842 Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 画)
	Year: 1842 Signature: Chô-ô-rô Kuniyoshi ga (朝櫻楼 國芳 画)
	Year: 1843 Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 画)
	Year: 1845 Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 画) with Yoshi Kiri seal
	Year: 1845 Signature: Chô-ô-rô Kuniyoshi ga (朝櫻楼 國芳 画) with Yoshi Kiri seal
	Year: 1846 Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 画) with Yoshi Kiri seal
	Year: 1847 Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 画) with Yoshi Kiri seal
	Year: 1848 Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 画) with Yoshi Kiri seal
	Year: 1848 Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 画)
	Year: c. 1848 Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi giga ga (一勇斎 國芳 戯 画) with Yoshi Kiri seal “Giga” means comic print.
	Year: c. 1848 Signature: Shigen no ô ju, Kuniyoshi ga (梓え乃應需 國芳 画) This signature translates as “By special request of the publisher, Kuniyoshi ga”
	Year: 1849 Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 画) with Yoshi Kiri seal
	Year: 1849 Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi hitsu (一勇斎 國芳 筆) with Yoshi Kiri seal
	Year: 1849 Signature: Ichiyûsai giga (一勇斎 戯画) with Yoshi Kiri seal “Giga” means comic print.
	Year: 1850 Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 画) with Yoshi Kiri seal
	Year: 1851 Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 画)
	Year: 1852 Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 画) in gourd-shaped cartouche with Yoshi Kiri seal
	Year: 1854 Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 画)
	Year: 1854 Signature: Chô-ô-rô (朝櫻楼) and Kuniyoshi ga (國芳 画) in separate panels
	Year: 1854 Signature: Ichiyûsai Ikusa Kuniyoshi (一勇斎井草國芳)
	Year: 1855 Signature: Ichiyûsai (一勇斎) and Kuniyoshi ga (國芳 画) in separate panels
	Year: 1856 Signature: Ichiyûsai (一勇斎) and Kuniyoshi ga (國芳 画) in separate panels
	Year: 1857 Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 画) in gourd-shaped Toshidama seal
	Year: 1860 Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 画) with Yoshi Kiri seal
	Year: 1860 Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 画) with Yoshi Kiri seal
	Year: 1860 Signature: Kuniyoshi ga (國芳 画) with Yoshi Kiri seal

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