Kabuki Scene Depicting Imōto Otsuru and Seigen
Cartographer / Artist: Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III)
Date Created: c. 1855
Medium: Color woodblock print (nishiki-e) on paper
Physical Dimensions: 9.6 × 14.1 in
Geographic Scope: Edo (Tokyo), Japan
Archive Catalog ID: multi1-img-2272
Provenance: The Dr. Joseph R. Rubini Archive
Collection: Japanese Woodblock Prints & Meiji Triptychs
This dynamic mid-19th-century ukiyo-e woodblock print by Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) depicts a dramatic scene from a Kabuki play. The central figure, labeled in the red cartouche as Imōto Otsuru (Sister Otsuru), is rendered in an elaborate purple kimono adorned with white floral motifs, geometric patterns, and layered red undergarments. She bends dramatically with an outstretched hand, set against a dark background of dense foliage. In the upper-left corner, a circular yellow cartouche displays a brooding portrait labeled Seigen, depicting a bearded male character resting his chin on his folded hands. The composition highlights the emotional tension and theatricality central to late Edo-period Kabuki prints, supported by vibrant pigment saturation and detailed textile rendering. The lower right corner contains the artist's signature (Toyokuni ga) alongside publisher and censor seals.
Condition: Excellent impression quality with vibrant original color pigments including purple, red, and deep green.. Minor trimming along edges with light toning and faint creasing consistent with age.. Clean overall surface with intact paper fibers and no major repairs.




