松本幸四郎|Matsumoto Koshiro IV as Tsurifune no Sabu

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of Edo-period Japan with this striking woodblock print by Katsushika Hokusai, the legendary artist behind *The Great Wave off Kanagawa*. Titled *Matsumoto Kōshirō IV as Tsurifune no Sabu* (ca. 1796), it captures the kabuki actor in a dynamic pose, sword at the ready, embodying the fierce character from the stage. This intimate *hosoban* format—measuring just 10¾ × 5¾ inches—hints at its design for personal collections, allowing fans to own a piece of theatrical glamour. Hokusai, then in his mid-30s and early in his prolific career, mastered ukiyo-e ("pictures of the floating world"), which celebrated everyday pleasures like kabuki theater. Known as *yakusha-e* (actor prints), works like this immortalized stars such as Matsumoto Kōshirō IV, a kabuki icon whose expressive features and bold costumes drew massive crowds to Edo's playhouses. The multi-block printing technique—carving separate woodblocks for each color layer—yields the print's vivid inks and precise details, from the actor's flowing robes to his intense gaze. Part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Howard Mansfield Collection, this piece reflects kabuki's cultural dominance in 18th-century Japan, blending artistry with celebrity worship. It invites us to appreciate how Hokusai's innovative lines foreshadowed his later masterpieces, bridging theater's drama with enduring visual poetry.

About the Artist

Katsushika Hokusai · 1760–1849

Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) stands as one of history's most influential artists, a Japanese master who revolutionized the ukiyo-e woodblock print tradition and profoundly shaped Western art. Born in the Katsushika district of Edo (modern-day Tokyo) to an artisan family, Hokusai lived through nearly nine decades of extraordinary creative evolution, adopting over thirty different artistic names t...