Comments - Fantastic kabuki portrait of Nakamura Fukusuke I as the ruthless leader Taira no Kiyomori. In his quest for political power, the brutal Kiyomori killed or crushed any opponents who stood in his way. In his later years, he was haunted by his actions, and began to see the spirits of those he had murdered. Here, he grimaces with rage as he stares up at an image of an elegant black lacquer cart engulfed in flames, a Buddhist metaphor for hell. He clutches the sleeve of his under robe to his chest as flames crawl up the edge of his sleeve. An incredible, expressive design, beautifully detailed with embossing and soft shading in the under robe, and a subtle burnished pattern in the blue kimono. A great portrait of this legendary samurai.

Artist - Toyokuni III/Kunisada (1786 - 1864)

Image Size - 13 3/4" x 9 7/8"

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Creasing, faint toning along right edge. Please see photos for details. Good overall.