Memorial Portrait of the Actor Nakamura Utaemon IV with Ichimura Takenojō V 1852

This 1852 woodblock print, created by an artist of the Utagawa School, depicts a *Memorial Portrait of the Actor Nakamura Utaemon IV with Ichimura Takenojō V*. *Utagawa* was a prolific school of Japanese woodblock print artists whose work often depicted actors and other figures of popular culture. The print shows the two actors in full costume, capturing their likeness and portraying their personalities. The colorful detail of the actors' clothing, including their kimonos and sandals, is characteristic of the *ukiyo-e* style, which is known for its vivid portrayal of everyday life in Edo-period Japan.