Utagawa Kunisada was a Japanese artist known for his woodblock prints in the ukiyo-e style, similar to his contemporaries Ando Hiroshige, Katsushika Hokusai, and Utagawa Kuniyoshi. Kunisada explored traditional themes, such as Kabuki Theater, samurai, and sumo wrestling, to great effect, becoming one of the most successful artists of his lifetime. He achieved widespread popularity quickly in his career, and was credited with creating over 20,000 designs over the course of his life. His collection of images included actor portraits, erotica, and book illustrations—most famously for Murasaki Shikibu’s The Tale of Genji—in addition to private commissions. Born in 1786 in Edo (now Tokyo), Kunisada studied with Utagawa Toyokuni and headed the Utagawa School after his mentor’s death in 1825. He died on January 12, 1865 in his birthplace.