Lot description
Utagawa Kunimasa (1773-1810) Japanese, Woodcut Print of Actor Ichikawa Omezô. Framed. Overall Size: 21 1/4 x 16 1/2 in. Sight Size: 13 3/4 x 9 in. Utagawa Kunimasa (1773-1810) was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist of the late Edo period, associated with the Utagawa school and renowned for his portraits of kabuki actors and bijin (beautiful women). A student of Utagawa Toyokuni, Kunimasa developed a refined style that combined dynamic composition with delicate line work, capturing both the elegance and theatricality of his subjects. His prints often depict dramatic moments from popular kabuki plays, as well as graceful scenes of everyday urban life, rendered with an eye for fashion, gesture, and expressive detail. Though his career was relatively short, Kunimasa’s work contributed to the flourishing of actor prints (yakusha-e) and the broader ukiyo-e tradition during the early 19th century.