Artist: Toyohara Kunichika (1835–1900).

Title: Gojō no hashi Hayase no Tsukikage (The Moonlight on the Rapids of Gojō Bridge).

Character: The warrior Onzōshi Ushiwakamaru (Minamoto no Yoshitsune).

Kabuki Actor: Sawamura Tosshō II.

Date: Meiji Period (c. 1867 - 1873).

Format: Right panel of a vertical triptych (Ōban, ~35 x 24 cm).

Medium: Polychrome woodblock print on paper (Nishiki-e).

Upper Inscription: Character's name (red) and actor's name (yellow).

Condition: The actual condition of the ukiyo-e is clearly shown in the images. We recommend reviewing all photos in detail before purchasing.

Toyohara Kunichika (1835–1900) is a fundamental artist in the history of Japanese art for the following reasons:The last great master of yakusha-e: He was the ultimate exponent of Kabuki theater actor prints, single-handedly keeping this traditional genre alive against the rise of photography in Japan.Visual chronicler of the Meiji era: He masterfully captured the country's historical transition, blending classic Edo period techniques with the rapid modernization of the late 19th century.Innovative and dramatic compositions: He revolutionized the classic format by creating striking triptychs with hyper-expressive close-ups (ōkubi-e), giving the actors' facial expressions an unprecedented psychological tension.Bold use of color: He pioneered the adoption of new Western synthetic pigments, especially intense aniline red, which became the vibrant, signature chromatic stamp of his later work.