Who painted Kabuki Actor with a Fan?

Kabuki Actor with a Fan was painted by Utagawa Kunisada in 1820.

Where can I see Kabuki Actor with a Fan?

Kabuki Actor with a Fan is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Kabuki Actor with a Fan?

Kabuki Actor with a Fan is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of Kabuki Actor with a Fan?

Museum-quality prints of Kabuki Actor with a Fan are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Kabuki Actor with a Fan

Utagawa Kunisada , 1820

Kabuki Actor with a Fan is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Kunisada. It dates from 1820 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:lower left in block: Gototei Kunisada ga
Markings: Marked:in block at bottom left: censor's seal (kiwame); publisher's mark [trimmed at bottom] (Ezakiya Kichibei)

About this work

Overview

Kabuki Actor with a Fan is a woodblock print created by Utagawa Kunisada in 1820, depicting a dramatic figure in traditional attire.

Subject & Meaning

The print portrays a kabuki actor in a intense pose, clad in a dark robe adorned with white dots and patterns, holding a fan and gazing upwards with gravity. Prominent Japanese characters behind him contrast with a subdued bamboo and wave backdrop.

Technique & Style

Executed using woodblock printing, the work exemplifies a prevalent 19th-century Japanese technique. This process involved carving and inking wooden blocks to produce multiple impressions, characteristic of the era's artistic production.

History & Provenance

Created in 1820 by Utagawa Kunisada, specific provenance details are not provided in the available information.

Context

The piece reflects the cultural intersection of kabuki theater and woodblock art (uukiyo-e) in 19th-century Japan, capturing the dramatic flair of kabuki through a popular artistic medium.

Legacy

As a work by Utagawa Kunisada, it contributes to the artist's extensive oeuvre in ukiyo-e, though its individual impact or notable exhibitions are not specified in the given context.