This woodblock print by Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III, 1786–1864), one of the leading masters of the Edo period, depicts a kabuki actor in an interior setting. The work carries three publisher-related seals in the lower left corner—a typical combination used between 1847 and 1852, during the so-called “double-seal” era (arafuda). These marks indicate the publisher, the block-cutter, and the censor’s approval.
The print therefore predates the 1853 censorship reform, after which the system was standardized and replaced by zodiac-date seals. This transitional group of prints is sought after for its clear historical placement and refined craftsmanship.
The print has not been opened or examined outside the frame.
