Collections: Asian Art: Beauties of the Latest Fashion Compared with the Beauty of Flowers (Tosei Bijin), from Flower Playing Cards (Hana-awase)

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Beauties of the Latest Fashion Compared with the Beauty of Flowers (Tosei Bijin), from Flower Playing Cards (Hana-awase)

Toyokuni II, or Utagawa Toyoshige, was a student and adopted son of Utagawa Toyokuni. Toyokuni II’s work strongly resembled that of his teacher, and that similarity, paired with his use of Toyokuni’s name—especially his exact signature—continues to raise questions about the authorship of certain prints. Like the woman in the adjacent image, the subject of this “blue-printed” print wears a kimono printed with bats, an emblem of good luck that appeared often on decorative arts. However, the use of a bat shape for the title cartouche here is highly unusual.


• Artist: Gosotei Toyokuni II, Japanese, 1802-1835
• Medium: Woodblock print
• Place Made: Japan
• Dates: ca. 1830-35
• Period: Edo Period
• Dimensions: 15 1/4 x 10 1/2 in. (38.7 x 26.7 cm)
• Signature: Artist's signature: Toyokuni ga; Censor seal: Kiwame
• Collections: Asian Art
• Museum Location: This item is not on view
• Accession Number: 76.151.14
• Credit Line: Anonymous gift
• Image: Overall, 76.151.14_print_IMLS_SL2.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
Gosotei Toyokuni II (Japanese, 1802-1835). Beauties of the Latest Fashion Compared with the Beauty of Flowers (Tosei Bijin), from Flower Playing Cards (Hana-awase), ca. 1830-35. Woodblock print, 15 1/4 x 10 1/2 in. (38.7 x 26.7 cm) . Brooklyn Museum, Anonymous gift, 76.151.14 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 76.151.14_print_IMLS_SL2.jpg)
• Catalogue Description: Woman, dressed in kimono with bat design and obi sash of eggplant and vines, stands before a maiden flower bush with a tobacco pipe in her hand. Condition: Small tear at top left. Needs to be remounted.