Utagawa Kunisada III

Utagawa Kunisada III, born in Edo as Takeuchi Eikyū, was a prominent ukiyo-e artist active from the closing years of the Edo period through the Meiji era. He is best known for his kabuki actor prints and depictions of the customs and rapid modernization of Meiji-period Japan. In 1858, while still a child, he entered the studio of Utagawa Toyokuni III, better known as Kunisada I. Following his master`s death, he continued his training under Kunisada II, later known as Toyokuni IV.
He initially worked under the name Kunimasa IV before succeeding to the name Kunisada III in 1889. He used several other art names during his career, including Kōchōrō, Baidō, and, from around 1891, Toyosai. He is also sometimes identified as Toyokuni V, although the numbering of the later Toyokuni successors varies among sources.
Kunisada III produced numerous yakusha-e and became one of the most prominent designers of kabuki actor prints in the Meiji period, second in popularity only to Toyohara Kunichika. He was particularly admired for his portraits of Ichikawa Sadanji I and also depicted many other leading performers of the rapidly changing Meiji theatrical world. Alongside actor prints, he created bunmei kaika-e illustrating Japan’s modernization, scenes of contemporary customs, illustrated books, e-sugoroku game boards, and other popular printed works. His extensive production provides valuable visual documentation of both Meiji-period kabuki and the transformation of Japanese urban society.