Utagawa Toyokuni

Born 1769 in Edo (present-day Tokyo); died there 1825. Japanese graphic artist and painter of the ukiyo-e school.

Utagawa Toyokuni was influenced by Kitagawa Utamaro. He became famous for his series of wood-block prints Portraits of Actors in Their Various Roles (1793-94), which portrays with great skill the actors’ poses and gestures and other aspects of the theater. Utagawa Toyokuni’s works are characterized by a flowing narrative quality and stylized grace. In addition to theatrical scenes, his works also include many wood-block prints depicting geishas.