Memorial Portrait of the Actor Kawarazaki Kunitaro I 1867

Toyohara Kunichika made this woodblock print, titled "Memorial Portrait of the Actor Kawarazaki Kunitaro I," in Japan during the late 19th century. The print commemorates the death of a Kabuki actor, a popular form of Japanese theatre. Kabuki theatre was not just entertainment, it was a social institution. The actors were celebrities, fashion icons, and their images were widely circulated in prints like these. This print, with its muted colors and somber mood, reflects the sense of loss felt by the actor's fans. The inscription on the left suggests the print was commissioned or sold at the actor’s memorial service at the Jokakuji Temple. The actor's image is idealized and presented with dignity, emphasizing his contribution to Japanese cultural life. For art historians, prints like this are valuable historical resources, offering insights into the social and cultural values of the time. They reveal the close relationship between art, entertainment, and the public in 19th-century Japan.