Utagawa Toyokuni III (Kunisada) — Nissaka: Kobayakawa Tatewaki — from the series “Fifty-Three - Paper - Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865) - Japan - Late Edo period
00
days
13
hours
39
minutes
18
seconds
27 other people are watching this object
 Bidder 9304 | €3 | |
|---|---|---|
 Bidder 4322 | €2 | |
 Bidder 8563 | €1 |
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 123053 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
Single item: a late Edo period paper woodblock print by Utagawa Kunisada (Utagawa Toyokuni III), titled Nissaka: Kobayakawa Tatewaki from the Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō, measuring 34.2 × 23.2 cm, provenance private collection, in good condition.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Title
Utagawa Toyokuni III (Kunisada) — Nissaka: Kobayakawa Tatewaki — from the series “Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō” — Edo woodblock print, c. 1850s
Description
A dynamic kabuki portrait by Utagawa Toyokuni III (Kunisada), created around the 1850s as part of the Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō series.
This design represents “Nissaka: Kobayakawa Tatewaki,” a role that appears in kabuki as a warrior retainer.
Rather than depicting a historical figure, the character is considered to be a kabuki role or a “mitate” (imaginary or reinterpreted figure) used in actor prints of the period.
Kunisada captures Tatewaki with an intense expression, strong features, and richly patterned robes, showcasing his signature theatrical style.
The background—travellers and a roadside bell—evokes the landscape of Nissaka, adding narrative depth to the composition.
Colors remain vivid and the impression is strong.
A fine example for collectors of mid-19th-century kabuki-e and Tōkaidō-related prints.
CONDITION:Trimming
Artist Biography
Utagawa Toyokuni III (Kunisada, 1786–1865)
A leading master of the Utagawa school and the most commercially successful ukiyo-e artist of his time.
Renowned for his yakusha-e (kabuki actor portraits), Kunisada shaped the visual culture of late Edo Japan with expressive faces, elaborate textile patterns, and dramatic compositions. His works remain highly sought after by collectors worldwide.
After payment is confirmed, the item will be delivered to you within 10 to 14 days.
Please note that any VAT or import duties charged by your country’s customs will be the responsibility of the buyer.
Thank you for bidding with this understanding.
Your winning item will be carefully packed and shipped via EMS to ensure safe delivery.
Seller's Story
Gallery SOBIAN (奏美庵) is a Kyoto–based gallery specializing in Japanese ukiyoe prints, woodblock prints, modern prints, and carefully selected works of contemporary art.
Our focus is on presenting pieces where traditional technique and modern sensibility quietly meet—a harmony that reflects the unique depth of Japanese aesthetics.
Our mission is to share the beauty of Japan with the world through art.
Not in a grand or dramatic way, but in the way Japanese beauty naturally reveals itself: through subtlety, atmosphere, and the quiet presence that lives within each work.
We have welcomed many international collectors who value authenticity and refined minimalism.
They often tell us that our pieces “do not need many words”—and this reflects our philosophy as well.
True beauty speaks in silence.
Every artwork on CATAWIKI is personally selected by the owner, whose sensibility has been shaped through years of engaging with both traditional prints and contemporary artistic expression.
We offer works that stand at the intersection of history, craft, and modern aesthetic clarity.
Through these curated selections, Gallery SOBIAN seeks to connect people around the world with the essence of Japanese culture, one artwork at a time.
It is our hope that each piece will become a quiet companion, enriching the life and space of its new owner.
“To carry the beauty of Japan to the world, through carefully chosen works.”
Title
Utagawa Toyokuni III (Kunisada) — Nissaka: Kobayakawa Tatewaki — from the series “Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō” — Edo woodblock print, c. 1850s
Description
A dynamic kabuki portrait by Utagawa Toyokuni III (Kunisada), created around the 1850s as part of the Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō series.
This design represents “Nissaka: Kobayakawa Tatewaki,” a role that appears in kabuki as a warrior retainer.
Rather than depicting a historical figure, the character is considered to be a kabuki role or a “mitate” (imaginary or reinterpreted figure) used in actor prints of the period.
Kunisada captures Tatewaki with an intense expression, strong features, and richly patterned robes, showcasing his signature theatrical style.
The background—travellers and a roadside bell—evokes the landscape of Nissaka, adding narrative depth to the composition.
Colors remain vivid and the impression is strong.
A fine example for collectors of mid-19th-century kabuki-e and Tōkaidō-related prints.
CONDITION:Trimming
Artist Biography
Utagawa Toyokuni III (Kunisada, 1786–1865)
A leading master of the Utagawa school and the most commercially successful ukiyo-e artist of his time.
Renowned for his yakusha-e (kabuki actor portraits), Kunisada shaped the visual culture of late Edo Japan with expressive faces, elaborate textile patterns, and dramatic compositions. His works remain highly sought after by collectors worldwide.
After payment is confirmed, the item will be delivered to you within 10 to 14 days.
Please note that any VAT or import duties charged by your country’s customs will be the responsibility of the buyer.
Thank you for bidding with this understanding.
Your winning item will be carefully packed and shipped via EMS to ensure safe delivery.
Seller's Story
Gallery SOBIAN (奏美庵) is a Kyoto–based gallery specializing in Japanese ukiyoe prints, woodblock prints, modern prints, and carefully selected works of contemporary art.
Our focus is on presenting pieces where traditional technique and modern sensibility quietly meet—a harmony that reflects the unique depth of Japanese aesthetics.
Our mission is to share the beauty of Japan with the world through art.
Not in a grand or dramatic way, but in the way Japanese beauty naturally reveals itself: through subtlety, atmosphere, and the quiet presence that lives within each work.
We have welcomed many international collectors who value authenticity and refined minimalism.
They often tell us that our pieces “do not need many words”—and this reflects our philosophy as well.
True beauty speaks in silence.
Every artwork on CATAWIKI is personally selected by the owner, whose sensibility has been shaped through years of engaging with both traditional prints and contemporary artistic expression.
We offer works that stand at the intersection of history, craft, and modern aesthetic clarity.
Through these curated selections, Gallery SOBIAN seeks to connect people around the world with the essence of Japanese culture, one artwork at a time.
It is our hope that each piece will become a quiet companion, enriching the life and space of its new owner.
“To carry the beauty of Japan to the world, through carefully chosen works.”
Details
Dynastic Style/Period
Late Edo period
No. of items
1
Artist
Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865)
Country of Origin
Japan
Attribution
Original
Material
Paper
Height
34.2 cm
Width
23.2 cm
Title of artwork
Utagawa Toyokuni III (Kunisada) — Nissaka: Kobayakawa Tatewaki — from the series “Fifty-Three
Condition
Good condition
Provenance
Private collection
Sold by
