Good condition overall with some fraying along the edges and humidity-related wear consistent with age. The printed lines remain sharp and the image retains strong visual impact. The print is housed in a newer A3 frame with acid-free backing and UV protection to help preserve the paper and pigments.
This Meiji-period ukiyo-e woodblock print by Utagawa Kunisada III, signed Kōchōrō hitsu, depicts a Kabuki actor in a dramatic mie pose wielding a katana. The figure is covered in elaborate full-body irezumi tattoos, emphasizing the theatrical intensity and heroic bravado associated with late 19th-century Kabuki imagery.
Produced circa 1889–1892, the work bears the red Toshidama seal beneath the signature cartouche, the official trademark of the Utagawa school and an important mark of authenticity within the tradition.
Kunisada III continued the highly theatrical style established by earlier Utagawa masters, creating prints that blended dramatic gesture, vivid costume design, and popular fascination with tattoo culture and heroic outlaw imagery.
The bold composition and striking tattoo detail make this an especially visually compelling example of Meiji-period actor print design.
A strong and display-ready example of late Meiji Kabuki ukiyo-e, suitable for collectors of tattoo art, actor prints, and Japanese woodblock prints.
