Memorial portrait of the actor Matsumoto Yonesaburo I
Medium
Color woodblock print; oban
Dimensions
38.5 × 26.1 cm (15 1/8 × 10 1/4 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
24325
Art Historical Context
In the vibrant world of Edo-period Japan (1603–1868), Utagawa Toyokuni I (1769–1825) captured the fleeting glamour of kabuki theater with this striking memorial portrait of actor Matsumoto Yonesaburo, created in 1805. As a master of the ukiyo-e ("pictures of the floating world") tradition, Toyokuni specialized in yakusha-e—dramatic prints of actors in iconic roles—elevating stage stars to cultural icons. This color woodblock print on oban paper (a standard large format of about 38.5 × 26.1 cm) honors Yonesaburo, a celebrated performer whose legacy lived on through such commemorative images aft...
About the Artist
Utagawa Toyokuni I · 1777–1835
Japanese, 1777–1835