“Katakiuchi Uwasa-no-Furuichi” (1857)
by Utagawa Toyokuni (1769-1825)
35.5 cm x 25 cm, woodblock print on paper
Coppola Collection

Utagawa Toyokuni is 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 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 really moved it to the position of great fame and power it occupied for the rest of the nineteenth century.

This print has fantastic depth in person thanks to its fine lines, rich colors, and thick, weighty paper.

I was particularly keen on this one because it was dated 1857, 100 years before I was born. Was this done from one of Toyokuni I blocks after his death. or by one of the successors to his name? I do not know.