The actors Onoe Kikugoro III, Onoe Matsutake III, and Iwai Kumesaburo II
Medium
Color woodblock print; shikishiban diptych
Dimensions
22.2 × 38.6 cm (8 3/4 × 15 3/16 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
81292
Art Historical Context
In the vibrant world of 19th-century Japanese theater, Utagawa Kunisada I (also known as Toyokuni), a master of the ukiyo-e school, captured the charisma of kabuki stars in this striking color woodblock print from 1825. Titled *The Actors Onoe Kikugoro III, Onoe Matsutake III, and Iwai Kumesuro II*, this shikishiban dipt—two square panels forming a panoramic scene—showcases the performers in dynamic poses, likely from a kabuki play. Measuring just 22.2 × 38.6 cm, it exemplifies the intimate, collectible format beloved by Edo-period fans. Kunisada's yakusha-e (actor prints) were cultural pheno...
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...