The Actor Otani Oniji III 1762 - 1819

Katsukawa Shun'ei made this woodblock print of the actor Otani Oniji III sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century. Woodblock prints like this one were very popular in Japan, and they provide historians with a glimpse into the popular culture of the time. This print portrays a male actor, and was made during the Edo period. This was a time of relative peace and prosperity in Japan, and the arts flourished. Woodblock prints were a major part of this artistic boom. They were relatively inexpensive to produce, and they were widely circulated. This particular print depicts a famous actor of the time, and it likely would have been purchased by fans of his work. The print is also a good example of the ukiyo-e style, which was popular at the time. Ukiyo-e prints often depicted scenes from everyday life, as well as portraits of famous actors and courtesans. To understand this print fully, one needs to consult playbills, diaries, and other historical documents to find out more about the actor, the artist, and the social context in which the print was made.