NE Sbl E / VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM DEPARTMENT OF ENGRAVING, ILLUSTRATION AND DESIGN FEB ^5 1933 JAPANESE COLOUR PRINTS BY UTAGAWA TOYOKUNI I PRICE ONE SHILLING. EXCHAWGS The First Dream in tlie New Year of an l'kiyo\i' painter. The Ship of Good Fortune. (Perhaps a portrait of tlie artist.) !•:. 49()3-'86. Frontispiece.] VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM DEPARTMENT OF ENGRAVING, ILLUSTRATION AND DESIGN JAPANESE COLOUR PRINTS BY UTAGAWA TOYOKUNI I LONDON : PUBLISHED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE: 1920 ,.>'"■ \\ Publication No. 80 E I.D First printed . . 1908 Reprinted . . 1913 Reprinted . . 1920 Crown Copyright Reserved. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Facing Page First Dream in the New Year of an Ukiyoye painter. The Ship of Good Fortune with the Seven Gods. (E. 4903-'86.) Frontispiece Publisher Daishu. Perhaps a portrait of the artist. I . IWAi KuMESABURO in the part of the murderess Koume, wife of Ume-no-Yoshibei (E. 4834- '86) 4 II. Matsumoto Koshiro in the part of Totoki Denshichi, fighting with his father's murderer, Sachihoko Tenzo, a Corean interpreter (E. 4840-'86) 6 III. Onoye MATSUSUKE.as a porter (21360) 8 Pubhsher Serrichi. IV. Watching the Fireworks from Ryogoku Bridge on a Summer evening (E. 4900-'86) . . . . . . . . 10 Publisher Yamamoto Kiubei, at Yoshicho, Yedo. 1 sheet of a 6-sheet print. V, A Noble Youth, with female attendants, visiting a temple (E. 4222-'97) 12 1 sheet of a 3-sheet print. VI. Picnic of Women on the banks of the Sumida river, in the time of cherry-blossom (21356) . . . . . . . . 14 Publisher Yeijudo. 1 sheet of a 3-sheet print. VII. A Young Lady binding her poem to the branch of a cherry-tree (E. 1431 -'98) 16 Publisher Idzuichi, Yedo. (2848 Wt.24352/779 3/20 1m D.St. 828404 NOTE This Catalogue ivas compiled hy Mr. Edward F. Strange, C.B.E., formerly of the Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design. CECIL H. SMITH. CATALOGUE OF COLOUR PRINTS By UTAGAWA TOYOKUNI I I. BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE UTAGAWA ICHIYOSAI TOYOKUNI was one of the most skilful and best known of the Japanese makers of colour prints ; and his work possesses an individuality which especially entitles it to a degree of separate consideration. He was born in the year 1769; his father, Gorobei Kurahashi, being a carver of wooden images, Buddhistic and theatrical, of some local reputation. His artistic style was founded, in the first instance, on that of the painter Hanabusa Ichio ; but he afterwards studied under Toyoharu (from whom he received the name Toyokuni), Gyokuzan Ishida and Shunyei ; and it is from these latter artists that he derived some noticeable characteristics of the style which he himself developed. The whole of his life was passed at Yedo (the modern Tokyo) ; where he died on the seventh day of the first month of the year Bunsei 8 (a.d. 1825), in his fifty-seventh year, and was buried in the grounds of the Shrine of Myoken, Yanagashima, where a memorial was erected to him three years afterwards, by pupils and admirers, and several hundreds of his drawings or brushes (as in another account) buried. Toyokuni 's earlier prints are often in the manners popularised by Utamaro, Shuncho and Yeishi. These he was able easily to rival, and, as a matter of fact, is known to have imitated. But his special distinction lies, not in his prints of beautiful women, but in that magnificent series of portraits of actors in character, of which the Museum is fortunate enough to possess an unusually complete and representative collection. In this class of work he was strongly influenced by Shunsho and probably by Sharaku. He was also an able and popular book illustrator ; his first work of this kind having been produced in 1786, in his 18th year. And he had a great reputation as a designer of fan-prints. The circumstances which gave rise to the production of these, and similar prints by other artists, are of peculiar interest. The lower classes of the Japanese had a passion for the drama ; and the leading actors, as such, were idolized to an extraordinary extent. A great and (2848) c 2 constant demand existed for their portraits, and for representations of Scenes from the plays in which they appeared. This was met by such work as is herein catalogued — prints of the highest technical and artistic merit, but produced and sold at a trivial price to gratify the ever- changing desires of the multitude. In spite of their public popularity, the actors were socially despised. They ranked even below the colour print artists ; who, themselves, were accounted inferior to most other classes of skilled artizans ; and no member of the aristocratic, or of the military order, would ever have allowed himself to associate in private life wth either. In studying these prints of actors, it must be remembered that the representation of the faces conforms to a severe and limited convention ; there is little attempt at portrayal of the actual physiognomy of persons represented in character. But nothing (allowing for the limitations imposed by the technical process used) could be more realistic than the way in which Toyokuni sets forth the attitudes, the grouping, the make-up, and especially the dramatic spirit of the actors he was employed to paint. Another point to be allowed for is that female parts were invariably played by men. Among the prints in this collection will be found some depicting actors who had a special reputation for this faculty. Care must be taken by students to distinguish between the work of Toyokuni I. and that of two men who succeeded to his name. One of these was Naogiro, an adopted son, whose earlier prints are signed Toyoshige. On the death of his master he married the widow of the latter, and henceforward used his name, generally with the addition Gosotei. He died in 1835. Another and better known pupil, Kunisada, took the name of Toyokuni in 1844, and often described himself as " the second Toyokuni " ; though, in point of date, he was the third artist to use the name. He died in 1864 at the age of 79. Examples have been noted by yet another and later artist, describing himself as " Toyokuni of the third generation " ; but his prints are of no importance. The stories on which the plays were based have, nearly all, been related by Professor Anderson, in his catalogue of the Chinese and Japanese Paintings at the British Museum ; in the works of the late Lafcadio Hearn, or those of Lord Redesdale (Mr. A. B. Mitford), Messrs. Tomita and Lee, and Mr. H. Joly. An excellent illustrated description of the technique of colour-printing, by Mr. R. Tokuno, is published in the Report of the Smithsonian Institution, United States National Museum, for 1892 (page 221) ; a descriptive catalogue of an exhibition of tools and materials used in this process has also been prepared for this Museum ; and the Museum Handbook on Japanese Colour Prints contains a full account (so far as at present known) of the School of Japanese artists to which Toyokuni belonged, and of his pupils and followers. The prints referred to can be seen on application in the Students' Room (entrance in Room 71) of the Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design, at any time when the Museum is open, except on Sundays. E. F. S. (28 '8) c 2 II. CATALOGUE FAMOUS ACTORS IN CHARACTER The actor Bando Mitsugoro. (15i X lOi) E. 4804-'86. Publisher Mura. Bando Mitsugoro in the part of Watanabe no Tsuna, a hero of the 10th century, going to set up a placard on a lonely spot before the gate of Rashomon, which place is visited every night by a demon. (14i X 9J) E. 4805-'8G. Bando Mitsugoro in the part of Gofukuya (clothes- vendor) Jubei. (14f X 9f) E. 4806-'86. Bands Mitsugoro in the part of Fujiya Izayemon (a gallant). (14|: X 9|) E. 4807-'86. Bando Mitsugoro as the wrestler Akitsushima. (141 X 9|) 21367. Publisher Yamahei. Bando Mitsugoro and Iwai Kiimesaburo in the parts of Kichi and his mistress Oshichi. (12 X 91) E. 4808-'86. The latter burnt her own house in order to have an opportunity of retiring to a monastery, where she had once enjoyed, under the same circumstances, a meeting with the former. She was burnt at the stake. A 17th century story. Bands Mitsugoro and another actor in the parts of Sasaki Tatewaki and his servant Yosuke. (14| X 9f) E. 4809-'86. Publisher Yeiju. The actor Bands HikosaburS as Yuranosuke. (141 y 9£) E. 4810-'86. Publisher Kawagen. Bands HikosaburS as KwanshSjS. (14^ X 9f) 21363. Publisher Sudzu-i. The actor Ichikawa DanjiurS as Yokko Sodesuke. (14i X 9J) E. 4811-'86. Compare 21348 (/)fl5->^ .^ -c^----^ A Noble Yoltii, with female attendants, \'i>itini4- a temple. E. 4222-'97. 13 Actors representing Yayegaki and his betrothed Katsuyori. A 16th century Story. (14J X 9|) 1-:. 4885-'86. Publisher Yeiju. Actors representing Ono-no-Otsu and Samanosuke Mitsutoshi (vvitli the Koto). (14J X 9|) E. 4886-'86. Actors representing Ohatsu and Tokubei, her paramour. (14| X 9J) E. 4887-'86. Actors representing Akushichi-byoye Kagekiyo (right) lighting with Mio-no-yashiro Kumitoshi. 2-sheet. (14J X 10) E. 4888-'86. In the battle of Yashima (2nd month, 1 185 a.d.), Kagekiyo pursued Kumitoshi and caught him by the back part of his helmet, which was torn. Actors representing Tsurifune no Sabu fighting with Danshichi Kurobei. 2-sheet. (14i >: 10|:) . E. 4889-'86. Publisher Tsuruya. Actor in the part of a woman with a pipe. (I5i X 10^) E. 4890-'86. Publisher Idzuichi. Head of an actor in the character of Soga no Goro. (14f X 9f) E. 994-1914. Yakusha Butai no Sugataye. Portraits of actors from Ufe. Omiya. (15J V lOJ) E. 4891-'86. Printer Idzuichi. Portraits of actors from Ufe. Hamamuraya. (15 X 10) E. 4892- 86. Portraits of actors from hfe. Takinoya. (14| X 9J) E. 4893-'86. Printer Idzuichi. Paper faced with mica. Two actors. (14f X 9J) E. 4894-'86. Publisher Tsutaya. Two actors. (14| X 9t) E. 4895-'86 Publisher Tsutaya. Portraits of actors in character. 2 of a set. a If X 8) E. 4896, 4897-'86. 14 Scenes 1 and 3 in the Drama " Chiushingura," the Story of the 47 Ronin. 2 of a set. (9 X 12i) ^ E. 4917, 4918-"86. Publisher Yenomoto Kichibei. These prints are described as Ukiye, " perspective pictures." MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS A Dance, with scenery of the Tamagawa river. (12i X 8i) E. 4898-'86. The Ryogoku bridge at Yedo, in the cool of the evening. 5-sheet. (15i X 10^) E. 4899-'86- Publisher Yamamoto Kiubei, at Yoshicho, Yedo. Watching the fireworks from RyogSku bridge on a summer evening. 6-sheet. Plate IV. (14J X 9i) E. 4900-'86. Publisher Yamakiu (i.e., Yamamoto Kiubei). Rokugo Watashi-bune. Ferry on the river Rokugo. 3-sheet. (14J X lOJr) E. 4901-'86- Women walking by the banks of a river. (Hi X 10) E. 4902-'86. Publisher Senichi. 1 of 3 or 5 sheets. First dream in the New Year of an Ukiyoye painter. The Ship of Good Fortune with the Seven Gods. Frontispiece. (14| X 10) E. 4903-'86. Publisher Daishu. Perhaps intended for a portrait of the artist. Interior of a house ; New Year's Day scene. 2-sheet. (14| X n) E. 4229-'97. Publisher Yeiju. Kameido Temple. {9i X 14) E. 4904-'86. Publisher Idzumiya Ichibei. A noble youth, with female attendants, visiting a temple. Plate V. (15i X lOJ) E. 4222-'97. Publisher Yeiju. 1 of 3 sheets. Scenes of the Twelve Months. Third Month. — Women of the Shinagawa shore watching the gathering of shell-fishes on the third day, when the great ebb-tide occurs. 1 of a set of 12. (13| X 9J) E. 4231-'97. PubUsher Yeiju. Pl.ATi: VI. Picnic of Women on the Banks f)f tlu' Sumida River. '2135(S. 15 Procession of a noble represented by women ; in the distance is Mount Fuji. 5-sheet. (14^ X 10) E. 2125-'99. Publisher Hishiwaka. Natsuno Fuji Bijin Awase (The beauties of untimely season). 1 of a series. (14| X 9J) E. 4905-'86. Publisher Shikabun. Fujm Sawakagami. Occupations of women. Practising music and winding silk. (14i X 9^) E. 4906-'86. The signature Utamaro on this print is a forged addition. Two women bleaching cloth in the river Tamagawa ; with the flowers Nuphar and Sagittaria in bloom. (14^ X 9f) E. 1430-'98. Women washing garments at a stream. 3-sheet (1 missing). (14^ X 10) E. 4907-'86. Publisher Sen Ichi. Women in snow. 3-sheet (? 2 missing). (11 1 X 8) E. 4908-'86. Yoshiwara woman with attendants at the time of full moon. (15 X 10) E. 4909-'86. Two women catching fire-flies near the Sumida river. (15i X 9|) E. 1429-'98. Picnic of women on the banks of the Sumida river in the time of cherry- blossom. 3-sheet. Plate VI. (15f X lOi) 21356- Pubhsher Yeijudo. A young lady standing on a wine-cask in order to bind her poem to the branch of a cherry-tree. Plate VII. (14| X 9|) E. 1431-'98. Publisher Idzuichi, Yedo. Shin Yoshiwara sakura-no-Keishoku. Viewing the cherry-blossoms in the Shin Yoshiwara. 5-sheet. (14i X 9J) E. 4228-'97. Publisher Yamamoto at Yedo. Yoshitsune sembon sakura. The Story of Yoshitsune and the 1 ,000 cherry-blossoms. 3-sheet. (14| X 9f) E. 4910-'86. Scene in the Story of Yoshitsune and Benkci. 3-sheet. (141 X 10) E. 49ll-'86. Sukeroku : a knight in the Yoshiwara. (143 X 10) . E. 4912-'86. 16 Genji Konodzu. An illustration to the Story of Prince Genji. (10 X 7i) E. 4913-'86. Tomoye fighting with Wadai Yoshimori. 3-sheet. (14| X 10) E. 4914-'86. Yehon Imayo Sugata. Illustrations of Modern Society. 24 colour prints in album. (8 X 11). Kiowa 2 (a.d. 1802). E. 4314-4337-'97. 1. A lady of the Imperial Court in a garden. 2. The Shogun's consort and her servants engaged in various occupations. 3. A " Chiiro " (a favourite of the Shogun), privately entertaining herself with a dance by a little girl. 4. Servants at Bakufu (the Shogun's Court) in a private apartment. 5. Peasant woman resting. 6. A young noble lady passing the front of a tooth-pick shop. 7. A place for hght archery (" Yukyo "), kept by girls. 8. Interior of a rich merchant's house. A woman toilet-vendor showing combs to ladies. 9. A lady with her baby visiting her mother-in-law. 10. Scene in servants' quarters. 11. Scene in servants' quarters. 12. Two women (Geisha ?) coming out of a public bath, looking at an employ- ment agency office, where the old woman (agent) is engaging a woman as a servant. 13. Scene in Yoshiwara ; a woman going to meet a guest. 14. Scene in Yoshiwara ; private apartments of women. 15. Scene in Yoshiwara ; Niwaka (comic play) by a group of Geisha, dressed in male costumes. 16. Scene in Yoshiwara ; the mistress of the house in her chamber. 17. Courtesans in show-room trying a divination. The old woman is hawking through the streets, toilet articles (paper, powder, hairbinder, joss-stick and tooth dyer). 18. Geisha walking with Yoshiwara women. 19. Women at their meals. 20. A group of women looking through holes on shoji (which they made with tongue and fingers) at Geisha's play. 21. Women in their private room. One of them showing to the other a tattoo mark of her lover's name on her arm. 22. Women at their toilets. 23. Women walking in the streets. 24. Women in a boat. Toshidama-fude. Sketches, in the style of Hokusai's Mangwa. Cuts. col. (9 X 6) Nagoya. E. 11796- '86. — Another edition, in black only. (9 X 6) Nagoya. E. 11797- '86. Ippai Kigen. Comical Stories of a Drunkard. By Shikitei Sanba. Illustrated by Utagawa Toyokuni. Cuts. 2 vols. (7 X 5). 1883. E. 11798, 11799- '86. Plate VII. A Young Lady binding her poem to the branch of a cherry-tree. E. 1431 -'98. 17 FAN DESIGNS Men and women travelling in a State barge. Colour print. (8^x10^) E. 2422-1912. Two women seated, feeding silkworms. Drawing ift colours. (5J X 17|) E. 1168-1912. SURIMONO Gaku. Ichikawa Danjiuro acting. (8i X 11) E. 163-'98. Gaku were votive offerings to a temple. Kane of Omi, a heroine of the 13th century, stopping a runaway horse. (7J X 6|) E. 4915-'86. A^Or^:.— Unmounted prints by Toyokuni I. (Nos. E. 4919-4961 -'86) can also be referred to. They are chiefly of Theatrical subjects and in poor condition. Others, also unimportant, are in the Albums in the collection, each of which is preceded by an index to the names of artists represented therein. 18 BOOKS OF REFERENCE THE following books may usefully be referred to for fuller information on the subject. Anderson, William. • — The Pictorial Arts of Japan. With a brief historical sketch of the associated arts, and some remarks upon the Pictorial Art of the Chinese and Koreans. Plates and illustrations in the text. (16 X 12) London, 1886. — Japanese Wood Engravings ; their history, technique and characteristics. 80 pp. 6 chromo-xylogr. and 38 photo-zincotypes. (Portfolio Monographs. XVII.) (11 X 7) London, 1895. Artistic Japan. — Artistic Japan ; a monthly illustrated journal of Arts and Industries, compiled by S. Bing, and edited by Marcus B. Huish. Plates {many col.), and illustrations in the text. 6 vols. (14 X 10) London, 1888-91. BiNYON, Robert Laurence. — Painting in the Far East ; an Introduction to the History of Pictorial Art in Asia, especially China and Japan. 31 illus. (10 X 8) London, 1908. London : British Museum [Prints and Drawings]. — BiNYON, Robert Laurence. A catalogue of Japanese and Chinese woodcuts preserved in the sub-department of Oriental Prints and Drawings [p. 243, Utagawa Toyokuni ; p. 275, Toyokuni and pupils, Toyokuni and Kunimitsu ; p. 600, signatures]. 2 process illustrations, and facsimiles of signatures (10 X 7) London, 1917. Brinkley, F., Capt. —The Art of Japan, 2 vols. (16 X 12) Boston, Mass., U.S.A. (1901). I. Pictorial Art. 50 pp. 5 plates, 27 illus. in the text, and facsimiles of marks. II. Applied Art. 64 pp. 7 plates, 28 illus. in the text, and facsimiles of marks. Chamberlain, Basil Hall. — Things Japanese ; being notes on various subjects connected with Japan. 3rd ed. (8 X 5) Tokyo, 1898. Fenollosa, Ernest Francisco. — The Masters of Ukioye. A complete historical descripiton of Japanese Paintings and colour prints of the Genre School. (10 X 7) Now York, 1896. 19 GoNSE, Louis. — L'Art Japonais. Plates [some col.), and illustrations in the text. 2 vols. (15 X 11) Paris, 1883. Morrison, Arthur. — The Painters of Japan. 48 illus. (The Monthly Review, 1902-1903.) — ^The Painters of Japan. 122 plates. 2 vols. (15x11) London, 1911. Seidlitz, Woldemar von. — A history of Japanese colour prints. Ilhts. (10 X 7) London, 1910. (1st ed., in German, 1897.) Strange, Edward Fairbrother. — Japanese colour prints. 84 process illus., and facsimiles of artists' signatures. (9 X 5) London, 1913. One of the Victoria and Albert Museum handbooks. — Japanese Illustration. A history of the arts of wood-cutting and colour-printing in Japan. 8 chromo-lithogr . and 80 photo-zincotypes. (9 X 6) London, 1896. 2nd ed. 1904. — The colour prints of Japan : an appreciation and history. Process illus. (2 col.) (7 X 5) London, 1904. , One of the Langham Series of Art Monographs. — Toyokuni I. and his Theatrical colour prints. 20 pp. 6 illus. (Transactions of the Japan Society, London, 1907.) — Tools and Materials illustrating the Japanese method of colour- printing. A descriptive catalogue of a collection exhibited in the Victoria and Albert Museum. 3 illus. (10 x 6) London, 1913. Succo, Friedrich. — Utagawa Toyokuni und seine Zeit. Illus. 2 vols. (11 X 8) Miinchen, 1913. Tajima, Shiohi. — Masterpieces selected from the Ukiyoye School. (Toyokuni I., Vol. IV., p. 141.) Illus. (19x13) Tokyo, 1908. Woodcut Printing. — Woodcut Printing in water colours after the Japanese manner. Including interviews with S. Eida and J. D. Batten, an account of the process by R. Tokuno. 12 pp. 8 photo-zincotypes. (The Studio, III., 110, 144.) (12 x 9) London, 1894. Process of Wood-Cut Printing. A volume illustrating in detail the process of printing a Japanese colour i)rint from 91 blocks ; giving an impression from each block and then the result of its combination with the previous printings — 182 impres- sions in all. (19 X 13) (E. 1862-2043—1910.) NOTICE THIS Catalogue may be obtained either direct from the Director and Secretary, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, S.W. 7, or through any bookseller, price Is. (By post Is. lid-) Orders should be accompanied by a remittance. Other publications of the Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design are shown below. Catalogue. Publication No. 81 E.i.D. Japanese Method of Colour Printing, Tools and Materials illustrating, pp. 22 ; 3 plates, 6 figs. Roy. 8vo. 1913. 2d. (By post 3hd.) Guide. 88 E.I.D. Japanese Colour Prints, lent by R. Leicester Harms- worth, Esq., M.P. November 1913 to March 1914. pp. 44 ; 24 plates. Roy. 8vo. 6d. (By post 8|i.) Handbook. 89 E.I.D. Japanese Colour Prints. By Edward F. Strange. {Out of Print.) Photomount Pamphlet Binder Gaylord Bros., Inc. Makers Stockton, Calif. PAT. JAN. 21. 1908 HF r::: 828404 THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY