Ukiyoe Kabuki Theater Japan Snow Print

This print was made by Utagwa Kunisada I in September 1839 published by Izumiya Ichibei.
It is a kabuki print depicting an actor in his costume.

This actor is Ichikawa Ebizo V who is playing fukui saburo in the play Shakkyo no Yuki-geishiki, the legendary bridge in the snowy landscape with Sawamura Tossho at his side.
This print is originally a triptych and only the part with Ichikawa Ebizo remains the other two parts are the other actors who played in this play.

Utagawa Toyokuni III, Kunisada I (1786-1865) (三代歌川豊国) was one of the most popular ukiyoe painters of the 19th century and also one of the most prolific and financially successful, ahead of Kuniyoshi and Hiroshige. Utagawa Kunisada was born in Edo in 1786. His father, who died the following year, was an amateur poet of little repute. He was accepted around 1800 as an apprentice to one of the greatest masters of woodblock drawing, Toyokuni. He began by producing prints of actors, Bijin-ga, sumo-e, landscapes and warriors. He also produced a large number of shunga (erotic prints). He is said to have produced over 20,000 prints. In 1844-1845, Kunisada Utagawa changed his stage name to the name of his teacher, Toyokuni, and thus became Toyokuni III. He died in Edo after training several students such as Toyohara Kunichika 豊原 国周 and Utagawa Kunisada II 歌川 国貞.