One Of The Portrait From The Collection Of Portraits, Portraits Of An Actor

This painting by Toyohara Kunichika is a stunning example of Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock print, showcasing a kabuki actor in a dramatic portrayal. Ukiyo-e, which means "pictures of the floating world," often featured scenes from kabuki theater, which was immensely popular during the Edo period.In the image, the actor is depicted with a strong, intense expression. His eyebrows are arched and furrowed, suggesting focus or emotional turmoil, and his eyes are sharply drawn, contributing to the intensity of his expression. This facial expression, along with the open mouth, typically indicates that the actor is in a moment of high drama, possibly delivering an important line or reacting to an event in the play.His attire is richly detailed and colorful, adorned with motifs that may signify attributes of the character he is playing or the context of the scene. The robe is primarily dark blue, ornamented with circular crests that include floral patterns, which are likely family or clan symbols, important in kabuki to identify characters’ alliances and statuses. The inner lining of the robe provides a striking contrast in red, adding to the visual impact of the artwork.The woodblock print also includes kanji characters along the pillars on the sides, which are likely the title of the play, the name of the character, or perhaps even promotional elements such as the name of the theatre or the date of the performance.