An actor as Mita no Tsuko and peonies, from the series "Ten Designs for the Honcho Circle (Honchoren jubantsuzuki)" c. 1822

This woodblock print, "An actor as Mita no Tsuko and peonies, from the series "Ten Designs for the Honcho Circle (Honchoren jubantsuzuki)", created by Yashima Gakutei around 1822, depicts an actor in a traditional Japanese costume, holding a staff and seated on a circular background. The scene is surrounded by a frame featuring white peonies, a popular symbol of good luck and prosperity. The artwork showcases the artist’s skill in capturing the elegance of traditional Japanese theatre through detailed rendering and intricate patterns. This is one of the ten prints in the "Honchoren jubantsuzuki" series, which showcases prominent actors from the Edo period (1603-1868). This print is now housed in the Art Institute of Chicago.