Print 1800 - 1865

This print by Utagawa Kunisada, now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, offers a window into the world of 19th-century Japanese woodblock printing, specifically during the Edo period. Here, we see a Kabuki actor, likely portraying Minamoto no Yoriie, a historical figure known for his military prowess. Utagawa Kunisada elevates the actor through his detailed rendering of costume and posture. The figure’s poised stance, coupled with the symbolic sword, speaks to themes of power, duty, and masculine identity within the strict social hierarchy of the time. The artist skillfully uses color and line to capture the emotion and drama inherent in the Kabuki tradition, even including a tattoo on the figure's arm. It is interesting to note that in Kunisada's time, Kabuki served as a vibrant, sometimes subversive, form of expression. This print exists at the intersection of art, theatre, and social commentary.