Pl.I The actor Onœ Kikugoro II “Stories of chivalrous man”, Utagawa Kunisada

Utagawa Kunisada, also known as Utagawa Toyokuni III, was considered to be the most popular designer of ukiyo-e woodblock prints in 19th century Japan. It is estimated that he has produced more than 20,000 works during his life time.

Kunisada was not only a brilliant print maker but also an excellent business man who had great commercial success just after he designed his first portraits of kabuki actors in 1808. In his own time, his reputation far exceeded that of his contemporaries, Hokusai, Hiroshige and Kuniyoshi.

This print is one of the late series by Kunisada, designed two years before his death. It's a series of kabuki plays about chivalrous and justice. The quality of the printing, the detail, the embossing, the colour impression are really outstanding. It is indeed a very fine, deluxe series and very highly regarded by collectors.

Ready to be framed