What is the estimated value of this Japanese woodblock print?

This Utagawa Kunisada II 'Life of Buddha' woodblock print is estimated to be worth between $50 and $80. This valuation is significantly impacted by its fair to poor condition, which includes extensive paper loss, a missing artist's signature, and considerable fading of the original pigments. Comparable sales of similar prints in better condition typically fetch higher prices, but this item's damages place it at the lower end of the market for an authentic Edo Period work.

What era or period is this Japanese woodblock print from?

This woodblock print is from the late Edo Period, specifically published in June 1860. It is part of the 'Shaka Hassō-ki Imayō Utsushi-e' series, created by Utagawa Kunisada II, a prominent artist of the Utagawa school. The Edo Period (1603-1868) was a time of flourishing ukiyo-e art, depicting scenes from daily life, theater, and legends for a popular audience.

What condition is this Utagawa Kunisada II print in, and how does it affect its value?

The print is in fair to poor condition. It exhibits substantial paper loss, particularly on the right margin where the artist's signature was located, and extensive yellowing/browning. Additionally, the original pigments have significantly faded. These severe condition issues reduce its market value by an estimated 70% or more compared to a well-preserved example, making it appealing primarily to entry-level collectors or those seeking a historical artifact.

Where should I sell this Utagawa Kunisada II woodblock print?

For this print, valued at $50-$80, the best selling venues are online marketplaces like eBay or Etsy, focusing on domestic sales within the United States. Due to its modest value and poor condition, major auction houses are unlikely to accept it, and international shipping costs would negate any potential profit. Listing it yourself allows you to reach a broad audience of entry-level collectors and maximize your net proceeds.

Is this Utagawa Kunisada II woodblock print authentic?

Yes, this woodblock print is considered likely authentic. The paper, pigments, and printing techniques are consistent with a mid-19th-century ukiyo-e print. While the artist's signature is physically missing due to damage, the print has been definitively identified as a specific design by Utagawa Kunisada II through comparison with documented examples in other collections.

What is the significance of 'Life of Buddha' in Ukiyo-e art?

The 'Life of Buddha' series, from which this print originates, blends religious narrative with the popular aesthetics of the Utagawa school. Ukiyo-e, or "pictures of the floating world," typically depicted scenes of everyday life, actors, and courtesans. However, artists like Kunisada II also explored historical and legendary themes, offering a diverse range of subjects to the Edo period's burgeoning urban population.

Utagawa Kunisada II, 'No. 24: Life of Buddha' from the series 'Shaka Hassō-ki Imayō Utsushi-e'

Estimated value: $50 - $80. Utagawa Kunisada II, 'No. 24: Life of Buddha' from the series 'Shaka Hassō-ki Imayō Utsushi-e' (Edo Period, 1860) — a researched valuation with cited comparable sales in Asian Art, from findthevalueof.com.

About this item

This woodblock print is a product of the vibrant 'floating world' (ukiyo-e) culture of 19th-century Japan. Created in Edo (modern-day Tokyo) in 1860, it was made for a popular audience of merchants and townspeople eager for dramatic images from history, legend, and theater. The creation of such a print was a collaborative effort between a publisher who financed the project (Tsujiokaya Bunsuke), an artist who drew the design (Utagawa Kunisada II), a master carver who prepared the woodblocks (Fukachō), and a printer who applied the colors. This particular print is from a series illustrating the life of the Buddha, blending religious narrative with the bold aesthetics of the Utagawa school of artists. Utagawa Kunisada II was the student and son-in-law of the great master Kunisada I (Toyokuni III), and he carried on the school's dominant style. Owning this print connects one to the final decades of the Edo period, a time when this traditional art form reached a peak of technical complexity and popular appeal before Japan's rapid modernization.

How the value was reached

The valuation is severely limited by the print's poor condition, specifically the extensive paper loss, missing signature, and faded colors. While prints by Utagawa Kunisada II can sell for several hundred dollars or more, those prices are for examples in good to excellent condition. The most relevant comparable sales are for other single-sheet prints by the artist in better condition, which sold in the $50 to $130 range at general auctions. A significant downward adjustment has been applied to account for the subject item's extensive damage, placing it at the bottom of the market for an authentic, but heavily compromised, period work. Recommended Reserve: $40. Estimated Net Proceeds after 15% commission: $42 - $68.

Comparable sales

UTAGAWA KUNISADA II (JAPANESE 1829-1869) "GENJI MONOGATARI" WOODBLOCK PRINT. A single oban-size woodblock print from a Genji series, framed. — sold for 99 GBP (Bishop & Miller), 2022-09-23
UTAGAWA KUNISADA II. Woodblock print, Japan, second half of the 19th century. A single oban-size woodblock print, framed. — sold for 500 SEK (Stockholms Auktionsverk Helsingborg), 2022-10-06
Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III, 1786-1864) Edo period (1615-1868), circa 1854-1863. A lot comprising an oban tate-e triptych and four oban tate-e prints. — sold for US$1,200 - US$1,800 (Bonhams), 2018-09-12

Expert notes

This is an authentic 19th-century woodblock print by the noted artist Utagawa Kunisada II. Unfortunately, its market value is severely compromised by its poor condition. The extensive paper loss, which has removed the artist's signature, and the significant color fading are irreversible damages. Due to the low potential value, professional restoration would not be economical. It is best sold 'as is,' appreciated as a damaged but genuine historical artifact.

This report is one of the worked examples in our guide What is your Japanese woodblock print worth?.