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Actors in a confrontation by a river from a contemporary drama. Colour woodcut by Kunisada II, 1857.

A courtly young man grapples with an assailant: his woman companion reacts with shock as she hides her face (Chapter 46, beneath the oak, from the 'Tale of genji'). Colour woodcut by Kunisada II, 1857.

Prince Genji and a girl by a garden pond at night, standing next to a flare burning on a stand. Colour woodcut by Kunisada II, 1857.

Courtesan Mori Murasaki of the brothel Kimpei Daikoku in the New Yoshiwara (licensed quarters), slides open a screen and looks at her child attendant. Colour woodcut by Kunisada II, 1870.

Japanese masks: six masks of characters in Noh plays, including two representing a dog and a demon, with an old man shown on the right. Colour woodcut with pop-up flaps on strings, 1860/1920?.

Yamabushi (warrior priests) with hostages, feasting. Colour woodcut by Kunimasa II, 1849.

Actors as guests at an inn looking into the central courtyard, where a female role actor plays a low-ranking courtesan. Colour woodcut by Kunisada II, 1866.

Two attendants are warming sake on a fire of autumn leaves; a woman stands like an apparition between them, holding the sake bottle. Colour woodcut by Kunisada II, 1857.

Actors in scenes from the play 'A treasury of loyal retainers' by Chushingura. Colour woodcut by Kunisada II, 1856.

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Utagawa, Kunisada, 1823-1880

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Yamabushi (warrior priests) with hostages, feasting. Colour woodcut by Kunimasa II, 1849.

Actors as guests at an inn looking into the central courtyard, where a female role actor plays a low-ranking courtesan. Colour woodcut by Kunisada II, 1866.

Actors in a confrontation by a river from a contemporary drama. Colour woodcut by Kunisada II, 1857.

Two attendants are warming sake on a fire of autumn leaves; a woman stands like an apparition between them, holding the sake bottle. Colour woodcut by Kunisada II, 1857.

Actors in scenes from the play 'A treasury of loyal retainers' by Chushingura. Colour woodcut by Kunisada II, 1856.