The series are arranged in basically chronological order, by year (more precise ordering of the later ones, where months are known, seems superflous given that for earlier series, not even the year is known precisely). In some cases various references disagree about the date of a given series; the date given for these includes the entire range covered by both references.
Notes are indicated by the sequence # with a number, which are hyper-link to the note. Japanese titles are given where known, with alternative translations inside [ ] delimiters; names commonly used by collectors to identify some series are given inside {" "} delimiters.
Where another artist collaborated on the same individual prints as Kunisada, their name is given inside { } delimiters; for series where there were multiple artists, but different artists did complete prints, their name(s) are given inside ( ) delimiters.
The numbers given in the reference section are item numbers, unless otherwise noted (e.g. as page numbers); in some volumes, the same numbers are reused for color and black-and-white plates, and color plates are indicated with a 'C' number. A reference marked with a '*' means that the reference contains the complete series.
I have done my best to get rid of duplicates, but there may still be one or
two. I hope to add publisher data at some point in the future, although this
may be complicated by instances where Kunisada used more than one publisher
for a series, or where the blocks were sold on to a second (or more, in some
instances) publisher for later editions.
Size | Series | Date | References |
---|---|---|---|
Contemporary Edo Patterns | [Frabetti], 132-133, 136 | ||
Full Color Contemporary Fashion | [Frabetti], 134-135 | ||
Sixteen Ukiyo-E Scenes of Musashi | [Frabetti], 137-138 [NarazakiIII], 13 |
||
Contemporary Make-Up | [NarazakiIII], 2-5 | ||
Modern Beauties and Landscapes of Edo [Possibly the same as this series] | [NarazakiIII], 8-9 | ||
Landscapes and Various Women of Today | [NarazakiIII], 12 | ||
Modern Beauties' Taste in Fashion | [NarazakiIII], 10 | ||
Beauties of the Pleasure Quarter: Snow, Moon and Flowers (Seiro bijin setsugekka) | 1809 | [Izzard], 9 | |
Brocade Prints of the Dressing Rooms (Gakuya nishiki-e nihen) | 1812 | [Izzard], pp. 23 | |
Actor puzzles (Yakusha hanjimono) | 1812 | [Izzard], pp. 23 | |
Five Shades of Ink from the Northern Provinces (Hokkoku goshiki-zumi) | 1814 | [Izzard], pp. 25 | |
Votive Hand Towels (Hono tenugui) | circa 1814 | [Izzard], 12 | |
A Series of Successful Plays [Great Hits of the Stage] [Hit Kyogen Plays] (Otari kyogen [no ochi]) | circa 1814-1816 | [Frabetti], 103-109 [Forrer], G260 [Izzard], 5 [Tinios], C1 [Rappard], 115-116 |
|
A Collection of Newly Published Brocade Pictures of Modern Beauties (Shimpan nishiki-e tosei bijin awase) | circa 1815-1816 | [Izzard], 16 | |
Untitled series of portraits of actors in the Chushingura | circa 1815-1816 | [Izzard], 8 [NarazakiIII], C7 |
|
Untitled series of views of the twelve months | circa 1816 | [Izzard], 15 | |
6 | An Actor Sundial (Haiyu hidokei) | circa 1816-1817 | [Izzard], 6 [Tinios], C3 |
Actors and the Cuisine of Famous Restaurants (Yakusha komei kaiseki ryori) | circa 1816-1817 | [Izzard], 7 | |
[Nana Komachi Girls as] The Seven Aspects of Komachi (Nana Komachi) | circa 1818-1820 | [Frabetti], 139 [VanGogh], 145 [Izzard], 17, pp. 27 |
|
12 | The Hours of the Yoshiwara (Yoshiwara tokei) | circa 1818-1820 | [Frabetti], 120-131* [Izzard], 23 |
Twelve Bells of of Edo (Edo junisho) | circa 1818-1820 | [Izzard], 19 | |
10 | The Pride of Edo (Edo jiman) | circa 1818-1820 | [Izzard], 22 |
Thoughts reflected in a Mirror (Omoigoto kagami utsushi-e) | circa 1818-1820 | [Izzard], 24 | |
10 | Contemporary Manners and the Passing of Time [Starfrost of the Times] [Contemporary Night-time Customs] (Hoshi no shimo tosei fukozu) | circa 1818-1821 | [Frabetti], 118-119 [Izzard], 18 [NarazakiIII], C16 |
Eight Famous Views of Edo | circa 1818-1821 | [NarazakiIII], C12 | |
Eight Popular Scenes and Contemporary Women | circa 1818-1821 | [NarazakiIII], C13 | |
An Imaginary Eight Views (Mitate hakkei) | circa 1820 | [Izzard], 29 | |
Twelve Hours of the Clock of the Present Day (Imayo tokei juni toko) | circa 1820-1822 | [Izzard], 20 | |
21 known | A Collection of Famous Restaurants of Modern Times (Toji komei kaiseki zukushi) | circa 1820-1825 | [Izzard], 21 [NarazakiIII], C15 |
8 x 3 | Eight Views of Edo (Edo hakkei) | circa 1820-1825 | [Forrer], G267 [Izzard], 25 [VanVleck], pp. 251 |
Untitled set of half-length actor prints | 1822 | [Tinios], C4 | |
A Contemporary Thirty-Two Types (Tosei sanjuni so) | circa 1822-1823 | [Izzard], 27 [NarazakiIII], 11 |
|
Six Famous Rivers with the Name 'Tama' and Six Beauties | circa 1822-1825 | [NarazakiIII], C14 | |
10 | Great Performances - Contemporary Pressed-Cloth Battledores (Tosei oshi-e hagoita atari kyogen no ochi) | circa 1823 | [Izzard], 35 |
Flower and Bird, Wind and Moon (Kacho-fugetsu) | circa 1823-1825 | [Izzard], 28 | |
8 known | Famous Places of Edo (Edo meisho) | circa 1824-1825 | [Izzard], 36* |
5 | A Collection of Famous Places in the Red-Hair [Dutch] Oil-Painting Style (Komo Abura-e meisho zukushi) | circa 1824-1825 | [Izzard], 37 |
Untitled series on the twelve months | mid 1820's | [Forrer], G263 | |
Firely Catching - A Lineup of Edo Folk (Hotarugari - Edokko soroi) | mid 1820's | [Tinios], C5 | |
Secret Meetings by Moonlight (Tsuki no kage shinobu yoru) | mid 1820's to circa 1836-1838 (various dates given) | [Forrer], G270-274 [Izzard], 73 [Rappard], 133-134 [NarazakiIII], 14 |
|
Different Kinds of Modern Household Rules (Tosei teikin orai) | 1820's | [VanGogh], 144 | |
6 known | Made to Order in Modern Taste (Oatsurae Toseikonomi) | 1820's | [Rappard], 135 |
5 | Drawings in the Red-Hair [Dutch] Oil-Painting Style (Komo Abura-e fu) | circa 1825 | [Izzard], 38 |
Untitled series on the theme of snow, moon and flowers | circa 1825 | [Izzard], 45 | |
Untitled set of half-length actor prints | 1826 | [Izzard], 46 | |
5 | Modern Views of Summer (Tosei natsu geshiki) | circa 1826 | [Izzard], 41 |
A Collection of Modern Beauties (Tosei bijin awase) | circa 1826 | [Izzard], 42 | |
A Collection of Beauties from the Pleasure Quarters (Seiro bijin awase) | circa 1826 | [Izzard], 71 | |
5 | Modern Views of Spring (Tosei haru-geshiki) | circa 1826-1828 | [Izzard], 40 |
Battle Tales of Han and Chu (Kan-So gundan) | circa 1827 | [Izzard], 43 | |
9 known | Rumours of Marriage Ties of Couples (Enmusubi Myoto Hyoban) | late 1820's | [Rappard], 142 |
A Collection of Otsu Prints (Otsue zukishi [Otsue Tsukushi]) | late 1820's - early 1830's | [Forrer], G283 [Rappard], 143 |
|
Three Fasionable Tippers (Fuzoku san-nin namayoi) | circa 1829-1830 | [Izzard], 63 | |
Types of the Floating World Seen Through a Physiognomist's Glass (Ukiyo jinsei tengankyo) | circa 1830 | [Izzard], 60 | |
Untitled set of half-length actor prints | circa 1830 | [Tinios], C8 | |
An Imagined Confrontation of the Three Theatres (San shibai mitate taimen) | 1832 | [Tinios], C11 | |
10 | A Collection of Joriri Libretti (Joruri zukushi) | circa 1832 | [Izzard], 62 |
10 | Actors with Six Jewel Faces (Haiyu mutama-gao) | circa 1832 | [Izzard], 66 |
10 | A Competition of Beauties and Celebrated Views of Japan (Honcho fukei bijin kurabe) | circa 1832-1834 | [Izzard], 64 |
Untitled series showing actors framed in mirrors | circa 1833-1834 | [VanGogh], 169 [Tinios], 1 |
|
10 | Untitled group of landscapes | early 1830's | [Forrer], G275-276 [Izzard], 65 [Rappard], 140 [VanVleck], pp. 252 [NarazakiIII], C18-19 |
The Five Festivals (Gosekku no uchi) | early 1830's | [VanGogh], 159 | |
Annual Observances at Yoshiwara (Yoshiwara nenju gyoji) | early 1830's | [VanGogh], 160 | |
Japanese Version of the 108 Heroes of the Water Margin | early 1830's | [NarazakiIII], C6 | |
Banners for Parlour Decorations (Gohi zashiki nobori no uchi) | circa 1835-1837 | [Izzard], 81 | |
5 | Five Brightly Colored Banners(Goku saishiki gohon nobori no uchi) | circa 1835-1837 | [Izzard], 82 |
5 known | Untitled set of half-length actors with their poems | circa 1836 | [Izzard], 69 |
Sun, Moon and Stars (Jitsugetsusei no uchi) | mid 1830's | [Forrer], G284 | |
Parody on the Eight Views of the Hours of the Yoshiwara (Yoshiwara tokei nihen mitate hakkei) | 1830's | [VanGogh], 158 | |
Parodies on Three Plays (San Shibai Mitate) | 1830's | [VanGogh], 162 | |
[Modern Allusions to] The Seven Komachi ([Tosei Mitate] Nana Komachi) | 1830's to early 1840's (various dates given) | [VanGogh], 164 [Rappard], 152 |
|
Famous Unusual Women from Different Places (Mei-ijo hogaku) | 1830's | [VanGogh], 167 | |
Eight Views of Beautiful Women (Bijin hakkei) | 1830's | [VanGogh], 168 | |
Fashionable Women of Edo (Tosei Edo suzume) | 1830's | [VanGogh], 170 | |
The Imitation Murasaki and the Rustic Genji (Nise Murasaki Inaka Genji) | 1830's | [VanGogh], 171-172 | |
Untitled set of half-length actor prints | 1838 | [Tinios], C10 | |
The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido (Tokaido gojusan tsugi no uchi) {"Bijin Tokaido"} | circa 1838 | [Izzard], pp. 30 [VanVleck], pp. 252 |
|
The Twelve Hours of Tatsumi (Tatsumi junitoki no uchi) | circa 1838-1840 | [Izzard], 74 | |
Eight Views of Tatsumi [the Licensed Quarters] (Tatsumi hakkei no uchi) | 1830's - early 1840's | [Forrer], G281 [VanGogh], 165 |
|
Eight Views of Edo Figures (Edo sugata hakkei) | circa 1840 | [Forrer], G280 | |
Untitled series on the twelve months | early 1840's | [Forrer], G277-279 | |
Collection of Pictures to the Hundred Poems by One Poet Each (Hyakkunin isshu kaisho) | circa 1843-1845 | [VanGogh], 174 [VanVleck], pp. 253 |
|
A Choice of Five Colors from the Floating World (Ukiyo goshoku awase) | circa 1843-1845 | [VanGogh], 176 | |
An untitled series of portraits of women, many with musical instruments | circa 1843-1845 | [VanGogh], 178-179 | |
Ten Celestial Stems (Jikan eto no uchi) | circa 1843-1846 | [VanGogh], 182 | |
A Selection of Fans with Eight Views Along the Sumida River (Ogi awase Sumidagawa hakkei) | circa 1843-1846 | [VanGogh], 186 | |
Elegant Pictures of Snow, Moon and Flowers (Furyu setsegekka) | 1844 | [Forrer], G287 | |
Untitled series on the six crystal rivers | 1844 | [Forrer], G292 | |
The Five Festivals (Gosekku no uchi) | 1844 | [Forrer], G302 [VanVleck], pp. 253 |
|
Untitled series on the theme of snow, moon and flowers | circa 1844-1845 | [Forrer], G296-297 | |
Eight Views of Edo (Edo hakkei no uchi) | circa 1844-1845 | [Forrer], G300 | |
Festivals of the Year in the Floating World (Ukiyo nenju gyoji) | circa 1844-1845 | [Forrer], G301 [VanGogh], 186 |
|
Shadow Pictures of an Auspicious Age (Arigataki miyo no kage-e) | circa 1844-1845 | [Izzard], 75 | |
Contemporary Stripes Woven to Order | circa 1844-1845 | [Izzard], 76 | |
Untitled series of half-length actors in front of fabrics | circa 1844-1845 | [Izzard], 76 | |
100 | Untitled set of women compared to the one hundred poems [Possibly the same as this series] | circa 1844-1846 | [Izzard], 77 |
The Wife of Yoshitomo, Head of the Left Horse (Sama no kami Yoshitomo no sai) | circa 1845 | [VanGogh], 180 | |
8 #1 | Fifty-three Parallels for the Tokaido (Tokaido gojusan tsui) (With Hiroshige and Kuniyoshi) | circa 1845-1846 | |
14 #2 | Ogura Imitations of the One Hundred Poets [Ornamental Papers Patterned After the Hundred Poets] (Ogura nazorae Hyakunin isshu) (With Hiroshige and Kuniyoshi) | circa 1845-1847 | |
Famous Places in Edo Combined with Poems (Edo meisho hokku awase no ochi) | circa 1846 | [Forrer], G293-295 | |
Untitled series on the twelve months | circa 1847-1848 | [Forrer], G304-305 | |
Flowers, Birds, Wind and Moon (Kachofugetsu no uchi) | circa 1847-1848 | [Forrer], G317 [VanVleck], pp. 255 |
|
An untitled series of portraits of women with a gengimon background | circa 1847-1848 | [VanGogh], 188-189 | |
20+ | A Mad Arrangement of Haiku Poets in Portrait and Writing (Haika Shoga Kyodai) | circa 1847-1848 | [Rappard], 154-156 |
Eight Views of the Southern Capital (Nanto hakkei no uchi) | circa 1848 | [Forrer], G314 | |
Modern Views of Flowers, Birds, Wind and Moon (Jisei kachofugetsu) | circa 1848-1850 | [Forrer], G310 | |
A Mirror of Past and Present Examples of Loyalty and Filial Piety (Konjaku Chuko kogami) | late 1840's | [Tinios], C12 | |
Pictures of Famous Unusual Women of Edo (Edo mei-ijo zue) | circa 1849-1853 | [VanGogh], 166 | |
Six Choices of Summer Among the Night Trades (Yoaki nai rokkasen) | circa 1849-1853 | [VanGogh], 192 | |
A Selection of Flowers for the Five Festivals (Gosechi no hana awase) | circa 1849-1853 | [VanGogh], 206-207 | |
Eastern Pictures of Edo Purple (Edo murasaki azuma no utsushie) | circa 1850 | [VanVleck], pp. 254 | |
Eastern Pictures with a Stylish Shrine Page (Heza sugata azuma no utsushie) | circa 1850 | [VanVleck], pp. 254 | |
Snow, Moon and Flowers (Setsugekka no uchi) | circa 1850 | [VanVleck], pp. 256 | |
The Four Seasons (Shiki no uchi) | circa 1851 | [Izzard], 84 | |
138 | [Actors at the] [Between the] Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido ([Yakusha mitate] Tokaido gojusan-tsugi no uchi [kan]) | 1852 | [Izzard], 89 [Tinios], 24 [Rappard], 158-159 |
Views of Famous Places in Edo (Edo meisho zue) | 1852 | [VanGogh], 221 | |
Sixty-Odd Provinces of Great Japan (Dai Nippon Rokujuyoshu) | 1852 | ||
The Sixty-Nine Stations of the Kiso [Highway] (Kiso rokujukyu eki) | 1852 | [Izzard], 90 [Tinios], C13 |
|
An Imaginary Thirty-Six Poets (Mitate sanjurokkasen no uchi) | 1852 | [Izzard], 91 [VanVleck], pp. 257 |
|
Faithful Depictions of the Figure of the Shining Prince (Sono Sugata Hikaru no Utsushi-e) | 1852 | [Rappard], 160 | |
Fifty-Four Chapters of Edo Purple (Edo Murasaki Gojuyon Cho) | 1852 | ||
49 | A Set of Famous Restaurants in the Eastern Capital (Toto Komei Kaitei Tsukushi) {With Hiroshige} | 1852-1853 | [Rappard], 169-172 |
Co-work on the Tale of Genji (Furyu Genji Eawase) {With Hiroshige} | 1853 | [NarazakiIII], C25 | |
Combined Landscapes and Stage Scenes of the Fifty-Three Post Stations of the Tokaido {With Gyosai and Yoshimori} | 1853 | [NarazakiIII], C27-C32 | |
A Comparison of Purple Appearances of Edo (Edo Murasaki sugata kisoi) | 1854 | [VanGogh], 222 | |
12 x 3 | The Twelve Months (Junigatsu no uchi) | 1854 | [VanGogh], 237-239 |
Six Crystal Rivers | 1854 | [VanGogh], 223-224, 240? | |
An untitled set of illustrations of chapters of the Tale of Genji | 1854 | [VanVleck], pp. 257 | |
The Fifty-Three Stations [of the Tokaido] by [from] Two Brushes (So-hitsu Gojusan-tsugi) {With Hiroshige} | 1854-1855 | [Rappard], 174-177 [VanVleck], pp. 53-54 [Tinios], 22 |
|
Eight Views of Lake Biwa (Omi hakkei no uchi) | 1855 | [VanGogh], 249 | |
Untitled series of portraits of actors with inset circular panels of other actors | 1855-1857 | ||
Famous Places in Edo and One Hundred Beautiful Women (Edo meisho hyakunin bijo) | 1857-1858 | [VanGogh], 258-259 [Izzard], 94 |
|
[Contemporary Allegory] An Up-to-Date Parody of the Four Classes (Imayo mitate shi-no-ko-sho) | 1857 | [Forrer], G318 [Izzard], 93 |
|
Murasaki's Hand-Printed Ashikaga Pictures of the Twelve Months (Ashikaga ginu tezome no Murasaki junigatsu no uchi) | 1858 | [VanGogh], 263-264 [VanVleck], pp. 258 |
|
Genji Compared with an Imaginary Eight Views (Genji mitate hakkei no uchi) | 1858 | [Izzard], 85, pp. 34 | |
Poems for the Four Seasons (Tosei shiki no nagame) | 1858 | [VanVleck], pp. 257 | |
The Fifty-Four Chapters of Genji (Genji goju yojo [hattan]) | 1858-1859 | [VanGogh], 279 [Izzard], 86 [NarazakiIII], 16 |
|
Matching Pictures with the Chushingura (Chushingura e-kyodai) | 1859 | [VanGogh], 267-269 | |
The Modern Thirty-Two Types (Imayo sanjuni so) | 1859 | [Izzard], 95 | |
Fashionable Mirror Reflections (Imayo oshi e-kagami) | 1859 | [VanGogh], 272-274 | |
Records of Famous Women From All Ages (Kokin meifu den) | 1859 | [VanGogh], 275-276 | |
Twelve Months of the Fashionable Genji (Imayo Genji junigatsu no uchi) | 1859 | [VanGogh], 278 | |
Tale of Genji Joint Work (Gappitsu Genji) {With Hiroshige II} | 1859 | [NarazakiIII], C26 | |
18 known | Actors in Mirrors in Raised Picture Style | 1859-1861 | [NarazakiIII], C33-36 |
Toyokuni's Caricatures (Toyokuni manga zue) | 1860 | [Izzard], 97 | |
Untitled series of actor portraits [often referred to as "Famous Kabuki Actors Past and Present (Konjaku kabuki meiyu)] | 1860-1865 (some issued posthumously) |
[Izzard], 96, pp. 39 [Tinios], C16, 25, 27 |
|
Untitled series of actors backstage | 1861 | [Izzard], 98 | |
12 x 3 | A Modern Genji During the Twelve Months (Imayo Genji Junikagetsu no uchi) | 1861 | [Rappard], 166 |
A Selection of Old and New from a Modern Genji (Imayo Genji ronyaku awase) {With Hiroshige II} | 1862 | [VanGogh], 291 | |
Modern Parodies of the Thirty-Six Flowers (Tosei mitate sanjurokkassen) | 1862 | [VanGogh], 292 | |
From the Four Seasons (Shiki no uchi) | 1862 | [VanGogh], 294 | |
Legends of Famous Women of All Ages [Lives of Famous Women of the Past and Present] (Kokin meifu den) | 1862 | [VanGogh], 296 [VanVleck], pp. 258 |
|
Famous Places on the Tokaido (Tokaido Meisho no Uchi) (With Yoshitoshi, Kunisada II, Hiroshige II, and Kyosai) | 1863 | ||
Toyokuni's Drawings - A Magic Contest (Toyokuni kigo - kijitsu kurabe) | 1864 | [Tinios], C15 | |
Thirty-Six Views of the Pride of Edo {With Hiroshige II} | 1864 | [Rappard], 178 |
[Forrer] Matthi Forrer, "The Baur Collection: Japanese Prints Volume I", Collections Baur, Geneva, 1994
[Frabetti] Giuliano Frabetti, Jack Hillier, Flavia Arzeni Biancheri, "An Italian in Japan: Paintings, Prints and Scrolls From the 17th to the 19th Century From the Edoardo Chiossone Museum of Oriental Art, Genoa", Electa, Milan, 1991
[Izzard] Sebastian Izzard, "Kunisada's World", Japan Society, New York, 1993
[NarazakiIII] Muneshige Narazaki, "Ukiyo-E Masterpieces in European Collections: Volume 3 - British Museum, III", Kodansha, New York, 1988
[Rappard] Charlotte van Rappard-Boon, "Hiroshige and the Utagawa School: Japanese Prints c. 1810-1860 (Catalogue of the Collection of Japanese Prints, Rijksmuseum, Part IV)", Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, 1984
[Tinios] Ellis Tinios, "Mirror of the Stage: The Actor Prints of Kunisada", University Gallery, Leeds, 1996
[VanGogh] Charlotte van Rappard-Boon, Willem van Gulik, Keiko van Bremen-Ito, "Catalogue of the Van Gogh Museum's Collection of Japanese Prints", Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, 1991
[VanVleck] "The Edward Burr Van Vleck Collection of Japanese Prints", Elvehjem Museum of Art, Madison, 1990