Busteportret van Nakayama Tomisaburo
1795 - 1799
Medium
nishiki-e
Dimensions
255; 381
About this artwork
height 381 mm x width 255 mm
Art Historical Context
Behold the striking *Busteportret van Nakayama Tomisab* (Bust Portrait of Nakayamaisaburo), a masterful nishiki-e wood print by Utagawaimasa, created between 1795 and 1799. This vertical ōban-sized work (381 mm high by 255 mm wide) the renowned kabuki actor Nakayamaisaburo, a onnagata who specialized in portraying female roles with exquisite grace and emotional depth. Kunimasa a skilled member of the influential Utagawa school, excelled in yakusha-e—actor portraits that brought the vibrant world of Edo-period theater to life. Nishiki-e, or "brocade pictures," represents the pinnacle of ukiyo-...
About the Artist
Utagawa Kunimasa · 1773–1810
Utagawa Kunimasa (1773–1810) was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist specializing in yakusha-e, or Kabuki actor prints, during the late Edo period. Born in Aizu, Fukushima Prefecture in 1773, Kunimasa initially worked in a local dye factory for several years before pursuing his true passion. As an ardent Kabuki theatre enthusiast, he relocated to Edo (modern Tokyo) to establish himself as an artist capable ...