Utagawa KUNISADA (Toyokuni III).1786-1864 Portrait of Kabuki Actor.Before 1853Polychrome woodcut. 340x235 mm., trimmed within margins. Below the signature “Toyokuni ga” within the red Toshidama cartouche e and three seals, two round seals of the censors, and one oval zodiacal date seal. Some defects.

Beautiful portrait of an actor of the Kabuki, one of Kunisada's favorite themes, much appreciated as an illustrator of traditional Japanese theater.The date is evident from the two Nanushi seals. From 1842 to 1853, individual censors called Nanushi. marked prints with their individual seals, bearing characters from their names. During the period from 1842 to 1846, these seals are found singly. From 1847 to 1853, the Nanushi marked prints in pairs.