Poem by Chūnagon Asatada- (Actor Bandō Shūka I as) Urazato Possibly 1852 - 1859

This woodblock print, *Poem by Chūnagon Asatada- (Actor Bandō Shūka I as) Urazato*, is a *Kabuki* actor portrait by the prolific artist Utagawa Kunisada. The actor is portrayed in the role of Urazato, a character from a popular play of the time, in a snowy scene. This print depicts the scene from a dramatic play and is a fine example of *ukiyo-e*, a genre of Japanese art that flourished from the 17th to the 19th centuries, often featuring actors, courtesans, landscapes and everyday life. Kunisada's dynamic use of line and color, as well as the dramatic composition, create a compelling image of the actor in a powerful and expressive pose. *Kabuki* theater, a form of Japanese traditional dance-drama, was popular among the common people in Edo (Tokyo) during the 18th and 19th centuries.