| Item No. | CHB-18 |
| Description | Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III). Three kabuki actors react dramatically to an unfolding confrontation in this richly colored woodblock print by Utagawa Kunisada. In the foreground, a check-robed figure has fallen backward, revealing a bloodied arm, while two men behind him recoil in alarm. Beyond the lattice windows appears an expanse of blue water. Contemporary cartouches identify two of the characters as Hyakuchū, a diviner (卜者百仲), and Unnen, a temple monk or novice (所化雲念). Kunisada heightens the theatrical drama through exaggerated gestures and sharply individualized expressions, contrasting the black and gray costume of Hyakuchū with the floral robes of Unnen and the bold checks of the foreground figure. An impression catalogued by the Waseda University Theatre Museum confirms Kunisada's authorship, the character names Hyakuchū and Unnen, and the date 1853. |
| Material | Japanese color woodblock print (nishiki-e), ink and color on paper |
| Origin | Japan |
| Circa | 1853 |
| Dimensions | 38 cm X 26 cm |
| Provenance | Bai Win Collection |
18,000NT$
- USD: 555US$
