Actors as Ushiwakamaru, Kisanta, Kiichi Hogen, and Minazuru-hime
c. 1847/52
Medium
Color woodblock print; oban
Dimensions
24.8 × 36.5 cm (9 3/4 × 14 3/8 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
154079
Art Historical Context
Behold the dynamic energy of Utagawa Kuniy's *Actors as Ushiwakamaru, Kisanta, Kiichi Hogen, and Minuru-hime* (c. 1847–52), a stunning color woodblock print from Edo period. This oban-sized work (24.8 × 36.5 cm) captures Kabuki actors embodying legendary figures from folklore: the youthful warrior Ushiwakamaru (Minamoto no Yoshitsune), the fierce Kisanta, the monk-samurai Kiichi Hogen and the ethereal Minazuru-hime. Kuniyoshi, a virtuoso of the Utagawa school, infuses the scene with theatrical drama, showcasing his signature bold lines, vibrant hues, and expressive poses that bring these heroe...
About the Artist
Utagawa Kuniyoshi · 1797–1861
Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861) was born in Edo to the silk-dyer Yanagiya Kichiyemon, originally bearing the childhood name Yoshisaburō. From a young age, he assisted in his family's pattern design work, which sharpened his innate mastery of color and textile motifs that would permeate his later prints. At around twelve years old, his prodigious drawing skills drew the attention of the renowned Utag...