Amazing woodblock print, dated 1855 by the giant of Japanese print, Utagawa Kunisada, also known as Utagawa Toyokuni III.

 

Utagawa Kunisada (1786 – 1865) was the most popular, prolific and financially successful designer of ukiyo-e woodblock prints in 19th-century Japan. In his own time, his reputation far exceeded that of his contemporaries, Hokusai, Hiroshige and Kuniyoshi.

 

Kunisada was a trendsetter in the art of the Japanese woodblock print. Always at the vanguard of his time, and in tune with the tastes of the public, he continuously developed his style, which was sometimes radically changed, and did not adhere to stylistic constraints set by any of his contemporaries.

 

Starting in 1844-1845, all of his prints are signed "Toyokuni", partially with the addition of other studio names as prefixes, such as "Kochoro" and "Ichiyosai". Although Kunisada referred to himself as "Toyokuni II", he must be regarded, however, as "Toyokuni III".

 

Actor portrayed is Ichikawa Kodanji IV (1812-66) was a disciple of the great Ichikawa Danjûrô VII in Osaka and succeeded his teacher as Edo's leading actor after Danjûrô's death in 1859