Original Japanese Woodblock Print – Utagawa Kunisada Toyokuni III – Nakamura Utaemon IV as Hachirō Kanja Tametomo – Edo 1840

Original traditional Ukiyo-e woodblock print. [This print is not a modern reproduction]

Print type: Yakusha-e (portrait of a kabuki theatre actor)

🎨 Artist: Utagawa Kunisada I 歌川 国貞 (signed: Gototei Kunisada ga 五渡亭国貞画)

📅 Date of publication: November 1840 (Tenpō 11 era, late Edo period)

📜 Publisher: Yamamoto Kyūbei 山本久兵衛
(publisher active in Edo in the first half of the 19th century)

Censor's seal: 極 (kiwame) Official approval seal in force in Edo before the 1842 reforms.

📏 Format: Ōban / Tate-e (approx. 25.5 x 37 cm)

Origin: Japan, found in Shizuoka Prefecture.

Title: 八郎冠者為朝 中村歌右衛門 Hachirō Kanja Tametomo performed by Nakamura Utaemon IV

Subject

🎭 Kabuki play:
鎮西八郎為朝魔縁 (Chinzei Hachirō Tametomo Maen). A dramatic play tracing the semi-divine legend of Minamoto no Tametomo. This play blends history, magic, and legend to recount the supernatural exploits of Tametomo, a rebellious figure with a heroic destiny, often depicted in the great scenes of bravery in the kabuki repertoire.

This print features Nakamura Utaemon IV, a great kabuki actor from the Nakamura school, embodying Hachirō Kanja Tametomo, a legendary hero renowned for his power and bravery in the Heian period.

Tametomo is depicted here in a moment of dramatic tension, holding a fan and dressed in a magnificently printed ceremonial kimono. The ensemble expresses both the martial presence of the character and the codified aesthetics of kabuki theatre.

Condition

Original period print, well preserved.
➕ Clear colours, well-defined outlines, supple period paper.
➖ Slightly faded colours. Some old folds, light rubbing, wear on the reverse but not visible on the front.

🦝 Our opinion

This work is a superb representation of the golden age of kabuki and ukiyo-e. Kunisada captures here not only the silhouette of a great actor, but also the nobility of a legendary character.

An ideal collector's item for kabuki enthusiasts, lovers of actor portraits, or those curious about original Japanese prints from the late Edo period. We particularly love his kimono!

Kunisada, famous for his portraits of actors and beautiful women, is one of the great masters of ukiyo-e. Explore more similar works in our collection of original Japanese prints.