Tametomo, the archer, pulling cloth 1854

This woodblock print by Utagawa Kunisada shows the archer Tametomo pulling cloth. It was made in Japan sometime in the first half of the 19th century. Prints like this one were made in an urban commercial context where artists, publishers, and distributors collaborated to meet the demands of a popular audience. Kunisada's choice of subject matter reflects the tastes of that audience. Tametomo was a heroic figure whose exploits were celebrated in literature, theater, and visual art. In this print, the exaggerated features of the figure, his dramatic pose, and bold clothing are all derived from the Kabuki theater tradition. Kabuki was closely associated with the floating world culture of the Edo period. Woodblock prints were often advertisements for actors. By purchasing such prints, fans could collect images of their favorite performers. To understand this print more fully, one could consult playbills, theater reviews, and biographies of the Kabuki actors who might have inspired it. Doing so would reveal more about the artist's relationship to the popular culture of his time.