Artist
Utagawa Toyokuni II
Japanese, 1777–1835
Utagawa Toyokuni II was a Japanese Romanticism artist. 9 works are cataloged here, principally at Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Utagawa Toyokuni II spent his life in Edo, where the buzz of theater and teahouses fed his art. He was more than just an artist, he was part of the Toyokuni family, first as a pupil, then as a son-in-law, and finally as the adopted heir to the name after his famous teacher, Toyokuni I, died in 1825. For years, he signed his work as Toyoshige, but once he took over the Toyokuni name, he became one of the city’s go-to designers of woodblock prints.
His prints often show actors in bold, dramatic poses, frozen mid-scene like snapshots from a play. Look for sharp lines and strong colors, his figures stand out with almost sculpted clarity. Later in life, he leaned into softer shades and more delicate details, a shift that set him apart.
Toyokuni II didn’t just copy his teacher’s style; he made it his own, shaping how people saw the stage through his prints.
Works by Utagawa Toyokuni II
Collections represented
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