Utagawa Toyokuni III (Kunisada), "Five Festivals Kabuki, Set"

A complete set of actor portraits posing for a kabuki play of "Contemporary Roles Parodied for Five Festivals." The actors pose valiantly as otokodate, chivalrous men or "Robin Hood" figures in Edo-period Japan who formed brotherhoods to protect merchants and peasants from abusive samurai. Often they operated as gamblers and gang leaders themselves. Sold as a rare and complete set of five wonderfully designed woodblock prints.

Series: Contemporary Roles Parodied for Five Festivals
Date: 1859
Format: Oban (each)
Condition: Excellent/very good color and condition

Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) (1786-1865) is one of Japan's most prolific and well-known Japanese woodblock print artists to emerge during the peak of ukiyo-e period printmaking. As was common among Japanese artists at the time, his moniker evolved from his teacher and master, Toyokuni I (1769-1825), as his prominence grew.