Fuwa Banzaemon 1800 - 1868

"Fuwa Banzaemon" is a handscroll painting by Utagawa Toyokuni (II), depicting a scene from the popular Kabuki play "Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees" (1800-1868). The work showcases Toyokuni’s mastery of ukiyo-e, a genre of Japanese woodblock prints and paintings that depicted everyday life, especially the popular theater. The artist’s signature is visible in the lower right corner. This scroll, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a prime example of Toyokuni (II)’s ability to capture the dynamism and beauty of Kabuki performance.