Actor Kataoka Nizaemon VIII as Hida no kami Masakiyo
Edo period (1603–1867)
Medium
Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper, creped
Dimensions
21.8 × 15.9 cm (8 9/16 × 6 1/4 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
149116
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of Edo-period Japan with this exquisite woodblock print by Utagawa Kunis I (also known as Toyokuni), a master of thekiyo-e tradition. Titled *Actor Kataoka Niza VIII as Hida no kami Masakiyo*, it the dramatic intensity of kabuki theater, portraying the renowned actor in the role of the fierce samurai Hida no kami Masakiyo. Created during the Edo period (1603–7), when ukiyo-e prints exploded in popularity, this work reflects the era's obsession with celebrity culture—kabuki stars like Nizaemon were idolized much like modern actors. The medium is a nishiki-e, or "bro...
About the Artist
Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III) · 1786–1864
Utagawa Kunisada I, also known as Toyokuni III (1786–1865), was born Sumida Shōgorō in the Honjo district of Edo (modern Tokyo) into a family that operated a hereditary ferry-boat service, providing stability after his father's early death. Displaying prodigious talent in drawing from childhood, he became an apprentice to the master Utagawa Toyokuni I around 1801 at age fifteen, entering the prest...