Toyohara Kunichika

The artist who became known as Toyohara Kunichika was born in 1835 and named Yasohachi. His father, owned a public bathhouse and his mother was the daughter of a teahouse proprietor. As a youth, he was known as a prankster.

He studied with Toyohara Chikanobu (not to be confused with Kunichika’s student who was also named Toyohara Chikanobu). He was also apprenticed to the studio of Utagawa Kunisada. By 1854 he had taken the name "Kunichika", a combination of the names of his two teachers, Toyohara Chikanobu and Utagawa Kunisada.

While many artists were depicting modernizations in their work, such as western fashions, trains, brick buildings, etc. Kunichika maintained the traditional Utagawa school design themes and conventions. His passion was kabuki theatre and the majority of his work is related to kabuki themes.

Kunichika's Famous Print Series

Although the majority of Kunichika's work was related to the actors in the kabuki theatre, he also created some amazing historical-themed series, and prints that advertised trendy Tokyo restaurants.

famous print series

36 Good and Evil Beauties

These prints of good and evil women from Japanese history is my favorite Kunichika series. The designs are fantastic, with energy and emotion. The print quality, detail and use of color is outstanding. On each print is a cartouche explaining the woman's story. In this series Kunichika breaks from tradition and presents women as individuals and not archetypes. Certainly one of Kunichika’s most fascinating series. Published by Morimoto Janzaburo in 1876.

Famous Print Series

36 Tokyo Restaurants

This series, published in 1877-1878, demonstrates the commercial ties between businesses, in this case restaurants, and popular artists of the day. Kunichika portrays thirty-six of the most popular restaurants in Japan. These prints focus on the interior and exterior architecture, views from the restaurant, attractive customers and restaurant staff. The designs are bold, colorful and provide a snapshot of the fine restaurants and habits of the time.

famous print series

100 Roles of Onoe Baiko

In 1893, Kunichika was commissioned by a publisher and a printer to create the series "One Hundred Roles of Baiko," chronicling the various characters played by the famous actor Onoe Kikugoro V, whose stage name was "Baiko". Baiko was the foremost actor of domestic dramas or sewamono and also one of the pioneers of zangirimono, or "cropped-hair plays,". Kunichika the artist, and Baiko were friends, often hanging out together backstage drinking tea and chatting.

Featured Kunichika Prints - Available Now

As of this writing, these original Kunichika prints are available for purchase from our Gallery. We encourage you to compare our pricing with similar prints from other galleries. In addition we have over 100 other prints by ukiyo-e master Toyohara Kunichika.