Kabuki Actor on a Boat under Cherry Blossoms – Utagawa Kunisada I

Utagawa Kunisada I 歌川国貞 (1786-1865) was one of the most successful and prolific Japanese woodblock printmakers, and was particularly known for his Kabuki theatre scenes and depictions of beautiful women.  This beautiful Oban format ukiyo-e woodblock print would have originally been part of a Triptych.  It shows the a Kabuki actor on a boat under a branch of cherry blossoms.  An accompanying sheet indicates that this is the actor Iwai Towaka (?)

Condition: The image is worn as shown and there is a crease running horizontally just above the actor’s head (this is less conspicuous to the eye than in this scan).