The Actor Bando Mitsugoro I as a Man in Daimyo Attire

Art Historical Context

Step into the dazzling world of Edo-period Japan Katsukawa Shunkō'sThe Actor Bando Mitsugoro I as a Man in Daimyo Attire* (ca. 1778). This intimate woodblock print captures the kabuki actor Bando Mitsugoro I in luxurious daimyo robes, evoking the splendor of feudal lords. Shunkō, a master of the Katsukawa school and pioneer in ukiyo-e ("pictures of the floating world"), specialized in yakusha-e—striking portraits of theater stars that blurred the line between stage and street life. Created during the vibrant Edo period (1615–1868), when kabuki theater gripped urban audiences in Tokyo (then Edo), this print served as affordable celebrity memorabilia. Fans collected them to relive performances, much like modern posters. The daimyo attire—elaborate silk robes with intricate patterns—highlights the opulence of samurai elite and the actor's transformative artistry, showcasing how performers embodied social roles with dramatic flair. Shunkō's technique shines in the precise ink lines and layered colors, achieved through the collaborative woodblock process: designers, carvers, and printers working in harmony. At just 12 x 5 inches, it's a pocket-sized gem from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Francis Lathrop Collection, inviting you to appreciate Japan's printmaking revolution and its celebration of performative culture.

About the Artist

Katsukawa Shunkō

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...