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 )

 

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 )

 

Year: 1831

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 )

 

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 .

 

Year: 1832

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 )

 

Year: 1833

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 )

 

Year: 1834

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 )

 

Year: 1836

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 )

 

Year: 1836

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

 

Year: 1838

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 )

 

Year: 1839

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 )

 

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

 

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.

 

Year: 1841

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 )

 

Year: 1842

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 )


Year
: 1842

SignatureChô-ô- Kuniyoshi ga (朝櫻楼 國芳 )

 

Year: 1842 or 1843

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 ) in an elongated Toshidama seal

 

Year: 1843

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 )

 

Year: 1845

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

 

Year: 1845

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

 

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 

 

Year: 1848

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

 

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”.  It is probably a forged signature.

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 

 

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 ) with Yoshi Kiri seal 

 

Year: 1851

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 )

 

Year: 1852

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

 

Year: 1853

Signature: Igusa Kuniyoshi kinsha (井草 國芳 謹写, faithfully rendered by Igusa Kuniyoshi)

 

Year: 1854

Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 國芳 )

 

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)

 

Year: 1855

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

 

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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