Portraits of the Actors Ichikawa Danjuro I, II, and III

The Ichikawa Danjuro name represents the premier acting line of the Edo kabuki stage. In 1832, Ichikawa Danjuro VII established a compedium of eighteen plays, The Kabuki Eighteen, to ensure this legacy. Kunisada’s triptych design showcases the first eight holders of this prestigious name in eight their most celebrated roles. Red seals in each square portrait read Toyokuni, Kunisada’s teacher and namesake. The border includes an abstracted pattern of the Ichikawa Danjuro family crest that consisted of three concentric squares. The artist’s seal located below the signature reads “Kunisada copying Toyokuni on demand of the publisher” and demonstrates the dominance of the Utagawa-school lineage in Edo kabuki prints and the strong connection between Toyokuni and Kunisada.