The Actor Ichimura Uzaemon IX as Aza-maru in the Play Yui Kanoko Date-zome Soga, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the First Month, 1774

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 18th-century Edo-period Japan with Katsukawa Shunsho's *The Actor Ichimura Uza IX as Aza-maru in the Play Yuioko Date-zome S*. Created around 1774, this color woodblock print captures the kabuki actor Ichimura Uemon IX in his role as the bandit Aza-maru during a January performance at the famed Ichimura Theater. Printed in the narrow *hosoban* format—measuring just 31 × 14.6 cm—this intimate portrait highlights the dramatic pose and expressive features that made kabuki a cultural phenomenon among urban audiences. Shunsho, a leading master of *ukiyo-e* (pictures of the floating world), specialized in *yakusha-e*—actor prints that immortalized theater luminaries. His innovative techniques, involving multiple woodblocks inked with vibrant pigments for layered colors, brought unprecedented realism and dynamism to the page. The *hosoban* size was perfect for affordable, collectible souvenirs, allowing fans to own a piece of the stage. This artwork reflects kabuki's golden age, blending myth, revenge tales like the Soga brothers' story, and star power. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia department, it offers a window into Japan's theatrical obsession, where prints like this fueled a booming popular culture.