The actors Ichikawa Ebizo V and Ichikawa Saruzo I

Art Historical Context

This striking color woodblock print by Utagawa Kunisada I (also known as Toyokuni III) captures two celebrated kabuki actors of the mid-19th century: Ichikawa Ebizō V and Ichikawa Saruzō I. Created in 1849 during Japan’s late Edo period, the work forms the right half of an *ōban*-size diptych. Kunisada, one of the most prolific ukiyo-e masters of his time, specialized in *yakusha-e* (actor prints), bringing the excitement of the kabuki stage to a broad audience through vivid portraits that emphasized dramatic poses, expressive faces, and elaborate costumes. The medium itself reflects the sophisticated woodblock techniques of the era, where multiple carved blocks layered rich pigments to achieve bold colors and fine details. As affordable, mass-produced images, such prints allowed theatergoers to collect and admire their favorite performers long after the curtain fell. This diptych exemplifies Kunisada’s mature style, blending theatrical energy with the refined aesthetics of floating-world art. Today in the Art Institute of Chicago’s collection, the print offers a vivid window into Edo-period popular culture, where art, performance, and commerce intersected to shape lasting icons of Japanese theater.

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...