Exhibit Catalog to the Morris County Historical Society's "Out of the Closet" Exhibition

Utagawa Kunisada II

Home
Engravings
Paintings and Drawings
Japanese Prints
Miscellaneous
Thank You
Fun Stuff

Kunisada II (1823 - 1880) was one of the three Ukiyo-e artists to take the name "Utagawa Kunisada." A pupil of Kunisada I (Toyokuni III), he signed much of his early work "Baidō Kunimasa III." He took the name Kunisada after marrying his master's eldest daughter in 1846. He changed his name once more following his master's death, to Toyokuni III. However, since there were three artists called Toyokuni before him and his master Kunisada I is known as Toyokuni III, Kunisada II is now usually referred to as Toyokuni IV.

Kunisada II's prints usually revolved around pleasure-houses and tea ceremonies. These themes are sometimes joined together in some of his prints, as geishas often acted as chaperones at tea-houses.

Tale of the Genji: Chapter 2

Tale of the Genji: Chapter 50