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Actor Depicting Warrior With A Sword by Utagawa Kunisada
Actor Depicting Warrior with a Sword
Actor Depicting Warrior With A Sword by Utagawa Kunisada
Actor Depicting Warrior With A Sword by Utagawa Kunisada

Actor Depicting Warrior with a Sword

Artist (Tokyo, Japan, 1786 - 1865)
Datec. 1820
Mediumcolour woodcut on paper
ClassificationsPrints
DimensionsOverall: Height: 37.5 cm, Width: 25.3 cm
Frame: Height: 65.2 cm, Width: 50.2 cm
AcquisitionAcquired in 1955.
CopyrightOut of copyright - CC0
LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Object numberABDAG007466
About MeKunisada was a pupil of Toyokuni I and one of the most successful and prolific artists of his time. He was particularly good at portraits of actors and beautiful women. When Toyokuni II died in 1835 Kunisada succeeded the name, but ignored the achievements of Toyokuni II, calling himself 'Toyokuni II'. He produced luxurious prints with new pigments and techniques in his late career.

This is one of Kunisada's early works which captures a moment of the actor's movement. This is probably the left panel of a triptych, depicting a scene from Kabuki. The format of full size figure with half length background was in fashion during the 1820's. The actor's name, Mimasu Gennosuke (Mimasu Daigoro IV), is inscribed on the left.

The signature at the bottom reads Gototei Kunisada, followed by a censor's seal and publisher's mark. This is possibly a reproduction made in the 1860's or an original work which was not published until the 1860's as the publisher's mark was only used from 1860 to 1864.


More About Me
Kunisada's woodcut, possibly the left hand panel of a triptych, is in the style in fashion in the 1820s with a full size figure, but half length background.