Snow, Moon and Flowers are worth a thousand gold coins: actor Ichikawa Kodanji in the role of the - Wood - Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865) - Japan - Edo Period (1600-1868)

This portrait in yakusha-e by Utagawa Toyokuni III (Kunisada) depicts the actor Ichikawa Kodanji in the role of the hunter Nagoya Heibei. Part of the Setsugekka atai senkin series (Snow, Moon, and Flowers Are Worth a Thousand Gold), this print blends theatrical portraiture with poetic refinement. The actor's exaggerated facial expression and his pronounced profile capture the dramatic intensity of the Kabuki performance, while his green kimono with plaid motifs adds visual dynamism. Behind him, a delicate vignette of seasonal images and calligraphy balances the composition. Kunisada's line work and color harmony illustrate the actor prints of the late Edo period, weaving together performance, literature, and decorative elegance.

Author
Utagawa Kunisada, also known as Utagawa Toyokuni III, was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist. He is regarded as the most popular, prolific, and commercially successful designer of woodblock ukiyo-e in 19th-century Japan. In his time, his reputation far exceeded that of his contemporaries Hokusai, Hiroshige, and Kuniyoshi.