Artworks · Katsukawa Shunshō

The Actor Nakamura Tomijuro I as Nagoya Osan in the Play Fuki Kaete Tsuki mo Yoshiwara (Rethatched Roof: The Moon also Shines Over the Yoshiwara Pleasure District), Performed at the Morita Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1771

1766 · Color woodblock print; from the illustrated book Yakusha Kuni no Hana (Prominent Actors of Japan)

16.7 × 13.5 cm (6 9/16 × 5 5/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Actors Otani Hiroemon III as Shinagawa Okaminosuke (right), and Ichikawa Danjuro V as Arashishi Otokonosuke (left), in the Play Fuki Kaete Tsuki mo Yoshiwara (Rethatched Roof: The Moon also Shines Over the Yoshiwara Pleasure District), Performed at the Morita Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1771

1766 · Color woodblock print; from the illustrated book Yakusha Kuni no Hana (Prominent Actors of Japan)

16.8 × 13.7 cm (6 5/8 × 5 3/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Actor Otani Hiroji III as Kawazu no Saburo in the Play Myoto-giku Izu no Kisewata, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1770

1765 · Color woodblock print; hosoban; from a multisheet composition

32 × 15.2 cm (12 5/8 × 6 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Actor Segawa Kikunojo II as Yuki Onna (the Snow Woman) in a dance interlude in scene two of the Joruri "Courtesan's Rouge on a Snow White Face (Oyama Beni Yuki no Sugao)" from the play "Cotton Wadding of Izu Protecting the Matrimonial Chrysanthemums (Myoto-giku Izu no Kisewata)," performed at the Ichimura Theater from the first day of the eleventh month

1765 · Color woodblock print; center sheet of hosoban triptych

30.6 × 14.3 cm (12 1/16 × 5 5/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Actor Ôtani Hiroji III Probably as Ukishima Daihachi in “Comparing Merits: Festival Day at Soma” (“Shinasadame Sôma no mombi”)

1765 · Color woodblock print; hosoban

31.4 × 14 cm (12 3/8 × 7 in.); 31.4 × 14 cm (12 3/8 × 7/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Actor Matsumoto Koshiro III as Kikuchi Hyogo Narikage in the Play Katakiuchi Chuko Kagami, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Sixth Month, 1770

1765 · Color woodblock print; hosoban; second-from-left sheet in a four-sheet composotion

31.6 × 14.3 cm (12 7/16 × 5 5/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Actor Otani Hiroji III in an Unidentified Role

1765 · Color woodblock print; hosoban

31.1 × 14.4 cm (12 1/4 × 5 5/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Actor Nakamura Sukegoro II as the Sumo Wrestler Matano no Goro in the Play Myoto-giku Izu no Kisewata, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1770

1765 · Color woodblock print; hosoban; right sheet of triptych

30.8 × 13.6 cm (12 1/8 × 5 3/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Actor Onoe Kikugoro I as Ukishima Danjo (?) in the Play Shinasadame Soma no Mombi (?), Performed at the Ichimura Theater (?) in the Seventh Month, 1770 (?)

1765 · Color woodblock print; hosoban

31.7 × 14.6 cm (12 1/2 × 5 3/4 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Actor Yamashita Kinsaku II as a Thunder Goddess in the Play Onna Narukami, Performed at the Morita Theater in the First Month, 1770

1765 · Color woodblock print; hosoban; from a multisheet composition (?)

31.2 × 14.3 cm (12 5/16 × 5 5/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Actors Ichimura Uzaemon IX as Kajiwara Genta no Kagetoki (Left), Segawa Kikunojô II as Yuki Onna (Center), and Arashi Sangorô II as Minamoto no Yoritomo (Right) in “Cotton Wadding of Izu Protecting the Matrimonial Chrysanthemums” (“Miyoto-giku Izu no kisewata”)

1765 · Color woodblock prints; hosoban triptych

30.8 × 14 cm (12 1/8 × 5 1/2 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Actor Matsumoto Koshiro II as Osada no Taro Kagemune Disguised as the Woodcutter Gankutsu no Gorozo, in Act Four (?) of the Play Nue no Mori Ichiyo no Mato (Forest of the Nue Monster: Target of the Eleventh Month), Performed at the Nakamura Theater from the First Day of the Eleventh Month, 1770

1765 · Color woodblock print; chuban

25.6 × 17.7 cm (10 1/16 × 6 15/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Actor Nakamura Nakazo I as a Monk, Raigo Ajari, in the Play Nue no Mori Ichiyo no Mato (Forest of the Nue Monster: Target of the Eleventh Month), Performed at the Nakamura Theater from the First Day of the Eleventh Month, 1770

1765 · Color woodblock print; hosoban

32.3 × 15.2 cm (12 11/16 × 6 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Black Horse Tethered under a Blossoming Cherry Tree

1765 · Color woodblock print; chuban

25.5 × 19.7 cm (10 1/16 × 7 3/4 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Lovers Dressed as Komuso Monks in an Autumn Landscape

1765 · Color woodblock print; chuban

26.2 × 19.3 cm (10 5/16 × 7 5/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Actor Arashi Sangoro II as Minamoto no Yoritomo in a dance interlude in scene two of the Joruri "Courtesan's Rouge on a Snow White Face (Oyama Beni Yuki no Sugao)" from the play "Cotton Wadding of Izu Protecting the Matrimonial Chrysanthemums (Myoto-giku Izu no Kisewata)," performed at the Ichimura Theater from the first day of the eleventh month, 1770

1765 · Color woodblock print; right sheet of hosoban triptych

32.5 × 15 cm (12 13/16 × 5 7/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Warrior Watanabe no Tsuna Fighting the Demon at Rashomon

1765 · Color woodblock print; chûban

28 × 21.3 cm (11 × 8 3/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Actor Nakamura Nakazo I as a Monk, Raigo Ajari, in the Play Nue no Mori Ichiyo no Mato (Forest of the Nue Monster: Target of the Eleventh Month), Performed at the Nakamura Theater from the First Day of the Eleventh Month, 1770

1765 · Color woodblock print; hosoban

31 × 14.6 cm (12 3/16 × 5 3/4 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Taira no Atsumori Returning to Shore to Confront Kumagai no Jirô Naozane

1765 · Color woodblock print; chûban

24.8 × 19.6 cm (9 3/4 × 7 11/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Actor Ichikawa Danjuro V as Watanabe Kiou Takiguchi (?) in the Play Nue no Mori Ichiyo no Mato (?), Performed at the Nakamura Theater (?) in the Eleventh Month, 1770 (?)

1765 · Color woodblock print; illustration cut from Ehon Zoku Butai Ogi (1778)

24.9 × 16.3 cm (9 13/16 × 6 1/2 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Actor Ichikawa Danjuro V as Watanabe Kiou Takiguchi in the Play Nue no Mori Ichiyo no Mato, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1770

1765 · Color woodblock print; hosoban

32.5 × 15.3 cm (12 13/16 × 6 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Actors Ichikawa Danzo III as I no Hayata Tadazumi (right), and Matsumoto Koshiro II as Osada no Taro Kagemune (left), in the Play Nue no Mori Ichiyo no Mato, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1770

1765 · Color woodblock print; hosoban

30.3 × 13.8 cm (11 15/16 × 5 7/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Actor Ôtani Hiroji III Possibly as Akaneya Hanshichi in “Snow on Mt. Fuji: The Soga Vendetta” (“Fuji no yuki kaikei Soga”)

1765 · Color woodblock print; hosoban

31.5 × 15.2 cm (12 3/8 × 6 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Actor Matsumoto Koshiro II as Osada no Taro Kagemune Disguised as the Woodcutter Gankutsu no Gorozo in the Play Nue no Mori Ichiyo no Mato, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1770

1765 · Color woodblock print; hosoban

31 × 13.8 cm (12 3/16 × 5 7/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Actor Otani Hiroji III as a White Fox Disguised as Ukishima Daihachi in the Play Shinasadame Soma no Mombi, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Seventh Month, 1770

1765 · Color woodblock print; hosoban

31.7 × 14.6 cm (12 1/2 × 5 3/4)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Actors Ichikawa Danzo III as I no Hayata Tadazumi (right), and Matsumoto Koshiro II as Osada no Taro Kagemune Disguised as Yatsurugi Zaemon (left), in the Play Nue no Mori Ichiyo no Mato, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1770

1765 · Color woodblock print; hosoban

32.1 × 15.3 cm (12 5/8 × 6 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Actor Ichikawa Danzo III as I no Hayata Tadazumi in the Play Nue no Mori Ichiyo no Mato, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1770

1765 · Woodblock print; hosoban, keyblock proof impression

28.8 × 13.8 cm (11 5/16 × 5 7/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Actors Ichikawa Danjûrô V as Watanabe Kiou Takiguchi and Nakamura Nakazô I as Taira no Kiyomori in the “Shibaraku” scene from “Forest of the Nue Monster: Target of the Eleventh Month” (“Nue no Mori Ichiyô no Mato”)

1765 · Color woodblock print; hosoban

32.2 × 14.3 cm (12 11/16 × 5 5/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Actor Ichimura Uzaemon IX as the Hairdreser Komagata Ikkaku in the Play Fuji no Yuki Kaikei Soga, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the First Month, 1770

1765 · Color woodblock print; hosoban

32.5 × 15 cm (12 13/16 × 5 7/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Chinese Immortal Seiobo (C: Xi Wang Mu, Queen of the West)

1765 · Color woodblock print; chuban

25.4 × 17.7 cm (10 × 6 15/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Actor Ichikawa Danzo III as I no Hayata Tadazumi in the Play Nue no Mori Ichiyo no Mato, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1770

1765 · Color woodblock print; hosoban

30.7 × 15.1 cm (12 1/16 × 5 15/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Actor Otani Hiroji III as Kawazu no Saburo in the Play Myoto-giku Izu no Kisewata, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1770

1765 · Color woodblock print; hosoban; from a multisheet composition

32 × 15.2 cm (12 5/8 × 6 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Actors Arashi Hinaji I (right), and Ichikawa Komazo II (left), as Princess Sakura (Sakura Hime) (?) and Shimizu Tonoinosuke (?), in the Play Soga Moyo Aigo no Wakamatsu (?), Performed at the Nakamura Theater (?) in the Third Month, 1769 (?)

1764 · Color woodblock print; hosoban

29.1 × 15.3 cm (11 7/16 × 6 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Actor Ichikawa Yaozo II as Soga no Juro Sukenari Disguised as the Proefessional Jester Senraku (?) in the Play Soga Moyo Aigo no Wakamatsu (?), Performed at the Nakamura Theater (?) in the Second Month, 1769 (?)

1764 · Color woodblock print; hosoban

31.3 × 14.1 cm (12 5/16 × 5 9/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Actor Nakamura Utaemon I as Monk Seigen of Kiyomizu Temple in the Play Soga Moyo Aigo no Wakamatsu, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Third Month, 1769

1764 · Color woodblock print; hosoban

31 × 14.9 cm (12 3/16 × 5 7/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Actor Nakamura Nakazo I as Tezuka no Taro Mitsumori Disguised as the Monkey Trainer Tonkichi Tochibei, in the Play Soga Moyo Aigo no Wakamatsu, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the First Month, 1769

1764 · Color woodblock print; hosoban

32.5 × 14.6 cm (12 13/16 × 5 3/4 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Actors Nakamura Utaemon I as Karashi Baba (right), and Ichikawa Danjuro IV as Sanshodayu (left), in the Play Kawaranu Hanasakae Hachi no Ki, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1769

1764 · Color woodblock print; hosoban

32.8 × 14.9 cm (12 7/8 × 5 7/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Actor Bandô Matatarô IV as Gempachibyôe in “Snowflakes: Plum Blossoms Kaomise” (“Mutsu no hana ume no kaomise”)

1764 · Color woodblock print; hosoban

31.6 × 14.2 cm (12 7/16 × 5 9/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Actor Sawamura Sojuro II as an Outlaw

1764 · Color woodblock print; hosoban; from a multisheet composition (?)

31.8 × 14.5 cm (12 1/2 × 5 11/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Actor Ôtani Hiroji III Striking a Stage Pose before a Stone Gateway

1764 · Color woodblock print; hosoban

31.1 × 14.4 cm (12 1/4 × 5 5/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Actor Nakamura Utaemon I as Kudo Suketsune Disguised as a Beggar in the Play Soga Moyo Aigo no Wakamatsu, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the First Month, 1769

1764 · Color woodblock print; hosoban

31 × 15 cm (12 3/16 × 5 7/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Actor Nakamura Nakazo I as Izu no Jiro Disguised as Kemmaku no Sabu in the Play Edo-zakura Sono Omokage, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Fifth Month, 1769

1764 · Color woodblock print; hosoban

31.2 × 14.7 cm (12 5/16 × 5 13/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Actors Segawa Kikunojô II as Reizei, Ichikawa Komazô I as Suruga no Hachirô, and Ichikawa Yaozô II as Tada no Kurando in “The Genji Clan Now at Its Zenith” (“Ima o sakari suehiro Genji”)

1763 · Color woodblock print; hosoban

32.6 × 15.2 cm (12 13/16 × 6 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Actors Sawamura Sôjûrô II as Chinese Sage Huangshi Gong and Ichikawa Danzô III as Chinese Warrior Zhang Liang in “At Mt. Otoko, a Trial of Strength in Drawing the Bow” (“Otokoyama yunzei kurabe”)

1763 · Color woodblock print; hosoban

32.5 × 14.9 cm (12 13/16 × 5 7/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Actors Sawamura Sôjûrô II as Shunkan and Azuma Tôzô II as Oyasu in “Outing to Pick Pine Seedlings on the Rat-Day of theNew Year” (“Hime komatsu neno hi asobi”)

1763 · Color woodblock print; hosoban

31.7 × 14.3 cm (12 1/2 × 5 5/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Actor Nakamura Sukegorô II as Ninja Aso no Matsuwaka in “The Genji Clan Now at Its Zenith” (“Ima o sakari suehiro Genji”)

1763 · Color woodblock print; hosoban

32.5 × 14.9 cm (12 13/16 × 5 7/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Actors playing the roles of Giheiji and his son-in-law, Danshichi Kurobei

1763 · Color woodblock print; chuban

24.4 × 18.9 cm (9 5/8 × 7 7/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Actor Ichikawa Danjûrô IV as an Immortal Hermit in “Tenjiku Tokubei Turns the Helm toward Home” (“Tenjiku Tokubei kokyô no torikaji”)

1763 · Color woodblock print; hosoban

32.8 × 15.4 cm (12 15/16 × 6 1/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago