Posted by Hans Olof Johansson (81.224.173.143) on January 14, 2006 at 19:01:50:
In Reply to: Yoshitsuya - comical calender print. posted by Guy Pepermans on January 13, 2006 at 21:50:24:
Guy,
Those "dreaded seals" again! It's actually "Cock 5", the 5th month of 1861 - not the 10th month.
Furthermore I don't believe the artist is Yoshitsuya. The signature is very difficult to interpret, but I think the most legible part, "Ittensai", may be decisive, and it does indeed point us in the direction of Yoshitaki (1841-1899).
It is clearly an Edo print, and the kiri (paulownia) seal below the signature tells us that the artist is a follower of Kuniyoshi. But Yoshitaki was an Osaka artist, and as far as I have found, he was never one of Kuniyoshi's students.
In 1861 Yoshitaki, only 20 years old, was already established as the leading print designer in Osaka. However, his teacher Yoshiume was once a student of Kuniyoshi, and according to Keyes & Mizushima ("The Theatrical World of Osaka Prints", p 279), Yoshitaki did use a paulownia seal at least once, in a panel of a triptych from the 1st month of 1862 - just a few months after the publication of your uke-e print. Also, the authors actually seem to state that the gô Ittensai was used only in 1861.
According to other sources Yoshitaki was at some time active also in Edo, but I haven't found any information as to when this would have been. If it was in 1861, though, it may not have been a coincidence. In the 3rd month of 1861 Kuniyoshi had died, and after his success in Osaka Yoshitaki may well have aspired to a leading role also among Kuniyoshi's followers in Edo. But this is pure speculation, of course.
Perhaps John Fiorillo or Peter Ujlaki could spread some more light on Yoshitaki's activities in Edo and his contacts with Kuniyoshi's studio?
Best regards,
Hans Olof