Ichikawa Monosuke III in the Role of the Otokodate Sukeroku

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of Edo-period Japan with Katsukawa Shunkō'sblock print *Ichikawa Monosuke in the Role of theokodate Sukeroku (ca. 1786). This striking yakusha-e, or actor portrait, captures the famed kabuki performer in the guise of Sukeroku, a swaggering otokodate—a chivalrous street gallant known for his bravado and charm. Shunkō, a leading ukiyo-e artist of the Katsukawa school, masterfully renders Monosuke with dynamic pose, bold costume details, and an iconic umbrella, evoking the theatrical energy of kabuki stages in 18th-century Tokyo. Printed in ink and color on paper, this intimate vertical format (ōban size, about 12 3/8 x 5 5/8 in.) exemplifies ukiyo-e techniques: intricate woodblock carving for layered colors and textures, from the actor's flowing robes to his expressive face. During the Edo period (1615–1868), such prints democratized celebrity culture, turning kabuki stars into household icons and fueling a craze for theater memorabilia among urbanites. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art Department from The Howard Mansfield Collection, this piece highlights ukiyo-e's cultural role in preserving fleeting performances, blending artistry with everyday fascination for actors and their larger-than-life personas.

About the Artist

Katsukawa Shunkō · 1743–1812

Katsukawa Shunkō I (1743–1812) was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist who pioneered the ōkubi-e (large-head) portrait format in kabuki actor prints and served as possibly the first student of Katsukawa Shunshō, the founder of the influential Katsukawa school. Born in 1743, Shunkō spent his entire life in Edo (modern Tokyo), working as both a painter and ukiyo-e printmaker specializing in yakusha-e (actor p...