Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861), KABUKI THEATER ACTOR PLAYING A ROLE, circa 1848.

From the series: BUYŪ CHIGARAGUSA / EXAMPLES OF MANNESS/
woodcut color nishiki-e/paper, blind embossed karazuri, ōban tate-e format, 36 x 24.4 cm
signature: Ichiyūsai Kuniyoshi ga; artist's stamp: red kiri flower; two censor's stamps
good state of preservation

Utagawa Kuniyoshi was born and worked in Edo. He learned the craft at Toyokuni's studio. He adopted the artistic names Ichiyūsai and Chōōro, and used these most often. He also studied painting of the Kano, Tosa and Maruyama schools. Kuniyoshi became one of the most popular artists of the declining ukiyo-e period. His works were popular to the point that young men commissioned tattoos from the artist. He became famous for his likenesses of actors, especially his depictions of historical and mythical heroes in heroic scenes. Many of his landscapes are believed to match Hiroshige's works. Kuniyoshi's penchant for fantasy motifs and atmospheres of horror is evident in his work.