{"product_id":"mg1824-kunisada-actors-with-poems-japanese-woodblock-print","title":"Kunisada - Actors with Poems","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUtagawa Kunisada\u003c\/strong\u003e (1786-1865)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTitle:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eActors with Poems\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDate:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1861\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGenre:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ukiyo-e, Yakusha-e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMedium:\u003c\/strong\u003e Original Japanese Woodblock Print, Oban\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher: \u003c\/strong\u003eKagiya Shōbei\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKabuki portrait of Ichikawa Kodanji IV as Arakawa Kurando Hirotsuna. The bold figure fills the page, glaring over his shoulder as rain slants across the sky. Embossed fur pattern on the white areas of the robe and burnishing on the black collar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach print in this series presents a restrained, formal composition, often pairing the actor portrait with a poetic inscription rendered to resemble wood grain, evoking the style of ema plaques used at shrines. Some designs also include small inset figures or still-life elements that act as symbolic references to the subject, though not all prints in the set follow this format.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe series is notable for its subtle, contemplative tone and refined late-style draftsmanship. Backgrounds often feature embossed textures, and the printing quality emphasizes surface detail and tonal richness. The set remained relatively obscure for many years, with surviving examples appearing infrequently on the market.\u003cbr\u003eMost designs are based on contemporary performances from 1861–1862, though some may be conceptual “mitate” interpretations rather than literal stage depictions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOverall, this is an important late work by Kunisada, combining theatrical portraiture, poetic text, and symbolic design in a highly finished and collectible series. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition: \u003c\/strong\u003eVery good condition, backed on Edo-era paper.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mie Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43883000102990,"sku":"MG1824","price":200.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0095\/7602\/2094\/files\/mg1824-Kunisada-Actorswithpoems-japanese-woodblock-print.jpg?v=1781980419","url":"https:\/\/miegallery.com\/products\/mg1824-kunisada-actors-with-poems-japanese-woodblock-print","provider":"Mie Gallery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}