After Utagawa Kunisada, Actor Portrait, Woodcut, 19th Century

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Polychrome woodblock print (nishiki-e), Edo Period. Ôban format A finely composed bust portrait of a kabuki actor set against a … Read more Polychrome woodblock print (nishiki-e), Edo Period. Ôban format A finely composed bust portrait of a kabuki actor set against a lively urban backdrop, likely representing Nihonbashi, the symbolic heart of Edo. The actor is depicted in three-quarter view, his sharply defined facial features and expressive gaze conveying dramatic tension characteristic of Toyokuni III’s mature actor portraits. He wears a boldly patterned indigo costume and a distinctive folded headcloth, rendered with meticulous attention to textile design. Behind the figure unfolds a bustling city scene: arched bridges crowded with pedestrians, vendors at work, and rooftops receding into a softly graded sky. A prominent red cartouche bearing an inscription related to Edo landmarks anchors the composition and balances the cool tonalities of the foreground. This integration of portraiture with topographical reference is typical of Toyokuni III’s work in the mid-19th century, when actor prints increasingly engaged with contemporary urban life. The refined linework, subtle bokashi gradation in the sky, and harmonious color palette exemplify the high technical standards of Utagawa-school printing. Publisher and censor seals are visible, further situating the print within the commercial kabuki print culture of late Edo Japan. Condition: Good overall impression with visible age wear, including paper toning, surface abrasions, and minor losses at the margins, consistent with prints of this period. Colors remain fresh and well balanced. See less