Memorial Portrait of the Actor Bando Shuka I 1855

This woodblock print, created by an anonymous artist in 1855, depicts a memorial portrait of the popular kabuki actor Bando Shuka I. The actor lies in repose as a woman in a colorful kimono kneels beside him, holding a writing brush. The inscription in Japanese, which appears in the background, suggests that the print was intended as a tribute to the deceased actor. This work is an example of ukiyo-e, the art of Japanese woodblock prints, and reflects the popularity of kabuki theater in 19th-century Japan.