Print 1800 - 1865

This print was made by Utagawa Kunisada, though the date of its making is currently unknown. Kunisada was a very popular designer of ukiyo-e woodblock prints in Japan, during the Edo period. Ukiyo-e prints had a profound influence on how Japanese art was perceived both domestically and internationally. Kunisada, along with other ukiyo-e artists, had a unique opportunity to depict a wide range of subjects. Think of the floating world of Kabuki actors and courtesans, as well as landscapes and historical events. His art became deeply intertwined with the cultural and social life of the time. Through careful examination of historical records, costume books, and theater programs, we can understand Kunisada’s prints as products of a unique social and institutional environment. He was not just an artist, but a chronicler of the times. He was an important figure in shaping our understanding of Edo-period Japan.