Sanbantsuzuki
Utagawa Kunisada (I)
c. 1824
Medium
nishikie, with metallic pigments
Dimensions
209; 183
About this artwork
Legaat van J.A. Bierens de Haan, Amsterdam
Art Historical Context
**Sanbantsuzuki** is a captivating woodblock print by Utagawa Kunisada (I) (1786–1865), one of the most prolific masters of Japan's ukiyo-e tradition, created around 1824 during the late Edo period. Kunisada, a key figure in the Utagawa school, excelled in depicting the "floating world" of theater, beauty, and everyday elegance, producing thousands of works that captured the vibrancy of urban life in Edo (modern Tokyo). This print, measuring a compact 209 × 183 mm, exemplifies his early style, blending precise draftsmanship with dynamic compositions that brought kabuki actors, courtesans, and ...