Kunisada Utagawa (1786-1865) - one of the most prominent Japanese artists of the first half of the nineteenth century. He was born in the suburbs of Edo in a wealthy family. From a young age, he copied Japanese engravings depicting Kabuki theater. He studied at the Utogawa Toyokuni Workshop (1800-1807), after which he began his own creative work. Head of the Utagawa Art School (1844). The special merit of the artist was the creation of a special type of theatrical portrait, which combined individual likeness and atmosphere of theatrical action.