Memorial Portrait of the Actor Nakamura Tamasuke
Medium
Color woodblock print; oban
Dimensions
37.7 × 26.2 cm (14 13/16 × 10 5/16 in.)
Classification
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
23969
Art Historical Context
This striking color woodblock print by Utagawa Kunisada I (also known as Toyokuni III) captures a memorial portrait of the kabuki actor Nakamura Tamasuke. Created in 1838 during Japan’s Edo period, the work belongs to the tradition of *shini-e*, or “death pictures,” which commemorated beloved performers shortly after their passing. Kunisada, one of the most prolific and celebrated ukiyo-e artists of his time, specialized in *yakusha-e* (actor prints), and this oban-sized sheet exemplifies his skill in conveying both likeness and emotional resonance. The print’s format reflects the vibrant pri...
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...