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A compelling original ukiyo-e woodblock print by Utagawa Toyokuni III (also known as Kunisada), one of the most celebrated artists of the Edo period and a master of kabuki portraiture. This dramatic nighttime scene, likely inspired by a kabuki theater performance, captures a charged and ambiguous moment between two figures. A seated man holds a lantern aloft, casting light onto a woman kneeling at his feet. Her disheveled hair and anguished expression hint at supernatural overtones, perhaps she is a tormented spirit or wronged lover. She clutches a lock of her own hair and reaches toward a sword that the man deliberately restrains with his foot, suggesting a tense struggle between violence and restraint, passion and control. Whether he is revealing the truth, offering guidance, or asserting dominance is left open to interpretation, adding to the emotional depth of the scene. Beautifully composed with refined linework and subtle color gradations, the print is signed in the lower right and includes actor name cartouches, identifying it as part of Kunisada’s kabuki-e series. Note: Label on the back misattributes the print to Kuniyoshi; signature identifies it as Kunisada. Professionally matted and set in a slim, brushed metal frame that enhances the art without distraction. Wired and ready to hang. Minor scuffs and scratches on the frame; very small marks visible under the glass or on the mat. Print appears well-preserved and professionally mounted. Frame: 15.25” wide, .75” deep, and 20.25” high. Approx. visible art: 8.75" wide and 9.75" high.
