The framed print measures 21 3/4” by 16” - the image is 15” by 10 ½”, oban size. It is in very good condition – very light toning and some faint smudges and a tiny hole next to his right foot. The frame is a wooden frame done in faux bamboo. The print has not been examined out of the frame but do know the framer and know that is was museum matted. We date the print to the late Edo, circa 1810-1830. It is signed and the signature translated as "Kuniyasu-ga"(painted by Kuniyasu).

Kuniyasu’s prints captured the world around him, particularly the Kabuki theater, with great clarity. The Kabuki stage was his inspiration, and since he took great pains to represent the actors' abilities in his prints, their expressions and gestures became more and more fierce and exaggerated.

Have you ever wondered why Japanese prints of actors portray the actor with his eyes crossed. We were curious so traced the reason down. The mie pose (mie, pronounced 'mee-eh'), a powerful and emotional pose struck by an actor, who then freezes for a moment, is a distinctive element of aragoto Kabuki performance. Mie means 'appearance' or 'visible' in Japanese, and one of the primary purposes of this convention is to draw attention to a particularly important or powerful portion of the performance. It is meant to show a character's emotions at their peak, and can often be a very powerful pose. The actor's eyes are opened as wide as possible; if the character is meant to seem agitated or angry, the actor will cross his eyes. In Japanese, the mie pose is said to be "cut" by the actor.