Nakayama Tomisaburo in the role of An no Oyasu

Art Historical Context

This striking woodblock print captures the celebrated kabuki actor Nakayama Tomisaburo in the role of An no Oyasu, a dramatic figure from the Edo-period stage. Created by Katsukawa Shun'ei in the second month of 1792, the work belongs to the vibrant tradition of yakusha-e, or actor portraits, which flourished during Japan’s Edo period (1615–1868). Shun'ei, a leading artist of the Katsukawa school, specialized in dynamic depictions of performers that conveyed both their stage presence and distinctive personalities. Woodblock printing, the medium used here, allowed such images to be produced affordably and shared widely among theater enthusiasts. The print’s tall, narrow format—known as a hosoban—highlights the actor’s commanding stance, complete with sword, emphasizing the tension and elegance of kabuki performance. Today in the Metropolitan Museum’s collection, it offers a vivid glimpse into the cultural excitement surrounding kabuki theater in late-eighteenth-century Japan.

About the Artist

Katsukawa Shun'ei 勝川春英 (Japanese) · 1762 –1819

Japanese, 1762–1819