Toyokuni I's Kabuki Portraits - The great ukiyo-e master Toyokuni I is best known for his expressive kabuki designs. His portraits were part of a new trend in creating actor images that more closely resembled the real actor as seen on stage, rather than the idealized portraits that predominated the genre earlier. Toyokuni I dominated the field of actor portraits for nearly three decades, creating bold, dynamic images in his own recognizable style.

Comments - Interesting kabuki scene of a samurai tugging on a beauty's obi, staring at her with an angry frown. She looks down at him with a sly expression as she pats the back of her hair, keeping one hand on the sash. A low table between the couple features a miniature scene of a shrine in the country surrounded with trees and rocks. At left, another samurai stands beside a screen with a bold lion pattern, scowling as he watches the pair, a long letter stretched between his hands. He wears a black kamishimo patterned with umbrellas, the long pants trailing beneath his feet. Blossoming plum branches frame a pink sky above. The actors include Bando Mitsugoro in the left panel and Matsumoto Koshiro in the right panel. An attractive design with expressive figures, nicely detailed.

Artist - Toyokuni I (1769 - 1825)

Image Size - 14 5/8" x 30 3/8"

Condition - This print with good detail as shown. Three separate panels. Vertical folds. Losses, holes, repaired. Wrinkling throughout, slight rubbing. Please see photos for details.