Japan: 'Cormorant Fishing'. No. 18, Matsukaze, from the series Lady Murasaki's Genji Cards (Murasaki Shikibu...

Utagawa Kunisada II (1823-1880) was a Japanese ukiyo-e printmaker, one of three to take the name 'Utagawa Kunisada'. A pupil of Utagawa Kunisada I, he signed much of his early work 'Baido Kunimasa III'. He took the name Kunisada after marrying his master's eldest daughter in 1846. He changed his name once more following his master's death, to Toyokuni III. However, since there were three artists called Toyokuni before him, Kunisada II is confusingly often known as Toyokuni IV. Kunisada II is renowned for his prints. His favourite subjects were pleasure-houses and tea ceremonies. These themes are sometimes found together in some of his prints, as geishas usually acted as chaperones at tea-houses.