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.

Saihôsha Kuniyoshi  (11)1816

 

Year: 1816

Signature: Saihôsha Kuniyoshi ga (採芳舎 國芳 )

 

Year: 1820

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 )

 

Year: 1824

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 )

 

Year: 1827

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 )

1831 114-0168

 

Year: 1831

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 )

201-0788

 

Year: 1831

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國よし )

 

The “yoshi” character is written in hiragana as よし instead of the usual .

1832  101-6890

 

Year: 1832

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 )

1833 101-2658

 

Year: 1833

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 )

1834  101-7178

 

Year: 1834

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 )

1836 114-0170

 

Year: 1836

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 )

‘Chô-ô-rô Kuniyoshi ga’, 1836

 

Year: 1836

Signature: Chô-ô- Kuniyoshi ga (朝櫻楼 國芳 ) in gourd-shaped cartouche

1838  101-6563

 

Year: 1838

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 )

1839  114-0192

 

Year: 1839

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 )

AN00987503_001_l

 

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 , drawn with brush by Ichiyûsai)

1840  201-0933

 

Year: 1840

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 ) with Toshidama seal

1840  101-6306

 

Year: 1840

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 ) 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.

1841  101-5553

 

Year: 1841

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 )

1842  101-4307

 

Year: 1842

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 )

 

Year: 1842

Signature: Chô-ô- Kuniyoshi ga (朝櫻楼 國芳 )

1843  101-5823

 

Year: 1843

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 )

1845  101-6267

 

Year: 1845

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 ) with Yoshi Kiri seal 

1845 Chô-ô-rô Kuniyoshi ga

 

Year: 1845

Signature: Chô-ô- Kuniyoshi ga (朝櫻楼 國芳 ) with Yoshi Kiri seal 

1846  101-6000

 

Year: 1846

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 ) with Yoshi Kiri seal 

1847 101-7052

 

Year: 1847

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 ) with Yoshi Kiri seal 

1848  402-0033

 

Year: 1848

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 ) with Yoshi Kiri seal 

1848

 

Year: 1848

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 )

 

Year: c. 1848

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi giga ga (一勇斎 國芳 ) 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 )

 

This signature translates as “By special request of the publisher, Kuniyoshi ga

1849  101-7195

 

Year: 1849

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 ) with Yoshi Kiri seal 

Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi hitsu, 1849

 

Year: 1849

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi hitsu (一勇斎 國芳 ) with Yoshi Kiri seal 

Kuniyoshi%20-%20%20%20Ichiyûsai%20giga%20,%201849(1),%20584-C02

 

Year: 1849

Signature: Ichiyûsai giga (一勇斎 戯画) with Yoshi Kiri seal 

 

Giga” means comic print.

1850  201-2052

 

Year: 1850

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 ) with Yoshi Kiri seal 

1851  114-0271

 

Year: 1851

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 )

1852 500-4402

 

Year: 1852

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 ) in gourd-shaped cartouche with Yoshi Kiri seal 

1854 114-0103

 

Year: 1854

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 )

Kuniyoshi - 'Chô-ô-rô Kuniyoshi ga', 1854

 

Year: 1854

Signature: Chô-ô- (朝櫻楼) and Kuniyoshi ga (國芳 ) in separate panels

 

Year: 1854

Signature: Ichiyûsai Ikusa Kuniyoshi (一勇斎井草國芳)

1855  401-0039

 

Year: 1855

Signature: Ichiyûsai (一勇斎) and Kuniyoshi ga (國芳 ) in separate panels

(2)1856  $_rrr57

 

Year: 1856

Signature: Ichiyûsai (一勇斎) and Kuniyoshi ga (國芳 ) in separate panels

 

Year: 1857

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 ) in gourd-shaped Toshidama seal

 

Year: 1860

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 ) with Yoshi Kiri seal 

 

Year: 1860

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 ) with Yoshi Kiri seal 

 

Year: 1860

Signature: Kuniyoshi ga (國芳 ) with Yoshi Kiri seal 

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