The actor Onoe Kikugoro III as Nagoya Sanza in the play "Sato no Haru Meibutsu Amigasa," performed at the Kawarazaki Theater in the first month, 1827

Art Historical Context

This exquisite woodblock print by Utagawa Kunis I (also known as Toyokuni), created in 1827, the kabuki actor Onoe Kikoro III in the role of Nagoya Sanza from the play *Sato no Haru Meib Amigasa*, performed Edo's Kawarazaki Theater the first lunar month. the left sheet of a rare shikishiban diych—a square format prized for its intimate scale (21.6 × 19.4 cm)—it showcases Kunisada's mastery of *yakusha-e*, or actor portraits, a hallmark of ukiyo-e art celebrating the "floating world" of theater and entertainment. Kunisada, a leading figure in the Utagawa school during Japan's Edo period, produced this *surimono*, a deluxe privately commissioned print often exchanged as New Year's greetings among poetry lovers. Techniques like precise woodblock carving allowed for vibrant colors, subtle gradations (*bokashi*), and luxurious embellishments such as embossing or mica, evoking the actor's dynamic pose and elaborate costume. The intimate size invited close viewing, heightening the print's poetic and performative allure. Held in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia collection, this work highlights kabuki's cultural dominance in 19th-century Japan, where superstar actors like Kikugoro III were idolized as modern celebrities. It offers a vivid glimpse into Edo society's passion for theater, blending artistry with ephemeral performance.

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...