長谷川貞信画 三代目尾上菊五郎|Kabuki Actor Onoe Kikugorō III as the Spirit of the Courtesan Yonakishii

Art Historical Context

This striking woodblock print by Hasegawa Sadanobu created in 1841 during Japan's Edo period (1615–1868), Kabuki actor Onoe Kikorō III in the dramatic role of the Spirit of the Courtesanakishii. Rendered in vibrant ink and color on paper in the large vertical ōban formatabout 14 7/8 × 10 1/4 in.), it exemplifies ukiyo-e, the "pictures of the floating world" that celebrated fleeting pleasures like theater and beauty. Sadanobu, a of yakusha-e (actor prints), skillfully blends realism with theatrical exaggeration to portray the actor's onnagata performance—men expertly embodying female characters in Kabuki. Kabuki, a vibrant all-male theater form, was a cultural phenomenon in Edo-era Japan, where superstar actors like Kikugorō III drew massive crowds. Prints like this served as affordable souvenirs and promotional posters, disseminating star images to fans. The collaborative woodblock technique—designing, carving, printing, and publishing—involved multiple artisans, allowing for bold colors, fine lines, and dynamic poses that convey supernatural energy, as seen in the spirit's ethereal aura. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art Department, this piece highlights ukiyo-e's role in democratizing art and preserving Kabuki's legacy. It invites us to marvel at how 19th-century Japan blurred gender, reality, and fantasy through masterful printmaking.