Utagawa School

The Utagawa School was active during a defined period in the mid-19th century, with collected works dated between 1849 and 1855. Surviving prints from this era indicate a specific focus on actor portraiture, often in a commemorative format.

A total of fifteen prints attributed to the Utagawa School are documented in museum databases, establishing their verifiable artistic presence in major institutions. This collection of work emphasizes memorial portraits of notable performers. Key documented works include the Memorial Portrait of the Actor Onoe Kikugoro III, two examples of the Memorial Portrait of the Actor Ichimura Takenojo V, and two versions of the Memorial Portrait of the Actor Nakamura Utaemon IV.

The Utagawa School is represented in American public collections, with prints preserved at the Art Institute of Chicago. The fifteen works held in collections allow researchers to study the School’s output from this seven-year period. These images, frequently reproduced as museum-quality records, confirm the School's specialized production of actor likenesses. Due to their age, many Utagawa School prints are considered public domain, allowing broader access to downloadable artwork for academic and preservation purposes.