The Actor Ichikawa Danjuro V as Taira no Masakado Disguised as the Pilgrim Junjo in the Play Masakado Kammuri no Hatsuyuki, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1777

Art Historical Context

This vibrant color woodblock by Katsukawa Shunshō the renowned kabuki actor Ichikawajūrō V in a dramatic role from the1777 play *Masado Kammuri nouyuki*. Created as left sheet of a triych in the narrow *oban* format, it portrays the historical warrior Taira no Masado disguised as the pilgr Junjo. Shunshō, a leading in the Katsukawa school, specialized in portraits that brought the excitement of Edo’s to a wider audience through affordable prints. Produced shortly after the at the Nakamura Theater, work reflects the golden age of ukiyo-e and the growing popularity of kabuki in 18th-century Japan. Shunshō’s precise line work and subtle color gradations highlight the actor’s expressive pose and elaborate costume, emphasizing both the character’s dual identity and the theatrical flair of the role. Such prints served as souvenirs and celebrity images, preserving fleeting stage moments for theatergoers. As part of the Art Institute of Chicago’s collection of Asian art, this piece offers valuable insight into the interplay between performance, fashion, and popular culture in Edo-period Japan. Its compact size and dynamic composition exemplify how woodblock prints made high drama accessible beyond the stage.