Imaginary portrait, Shuihuzhuan of Stage: Tōryūdai (Mitate Suikoden Tōrōdai) - Actor, Ichikawa Danjūrō plays as Sanjō

Art Historical Context

This striking woodblock print by Toyohara Kunichika captures the celebrated kabuki actor Ichikawa Danjūrō in the role of Sanjō, presented as an imaginary portrait from the classic Chinese novel Shuihuzhuan (Water Margin). Created in 1875 during Japan’s Meiji period, the work belongs to a series titled Mitate Suikoden Tōrōdai, which playfully reimagines characters from the epic tale through the lens of contemporary theater. Kunichika, a leading figure in late ukiyo-e, specialized in dynamic actor portraits that preserved the drama and charisma of the kabuki stage. The medium of woodblock printing allowed such images to reach wide audiences, combining bold lines, vibrant colors, and intricate patterns to convey both theatrical intensity and the actor’s commanding presence. As Japan modernized rapidly after 1868, prints like this one bridged traditional storytelling with new cultural interests, reflecting the enduring popularity of kabuki even as society transformed. Today housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Asian Art collection, the print offers a vivid glimpse into Meiji-era entertainment and the creative ways artists connected Japanese performance with Chinese literary classics.

About the Artist

Toyohara Kunichika · 1835–1900

Japanese, 1835–1900