The Actor Ichimura Uzaemon IX as the Potter Tsuchihei in the Play Higashiyama Momiji no Kadode, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Ninth Month, 1778

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 18th-century Japanese kab theater with Katsukawa Shunsho's *The Actor Ichimura Uza IX as the Potter Tihei in the Play Higashiyama Momiji Kadode*. Created around 1778, this color woodblock print captures the star performer at the Ichimura Theater during the ninth month, portraying the humble potter Tsuchihei in a dramatic autumnal scene from the play. Shunsho, a leading figure in the ukiyo-e tradition—"pictures of the floating world"—excelled in yakusha-e, or actor prints, that brought the stage's energy to everyday viewers. Printed in the narrow hosoban format (about 32.6 × 15.4 cm), this intimate half-length portrait showcases Shunsho's mastery of expressive faces, flowing robes, and dynamic poses, achieved through meticulous woodblock carving and vibrant pigments like Prussian blue and vermilion. These affordable prints served as souvenirs for kabuki fans, democratizing theater culture during Japan's Edo period (1603–1868), when urban entertainment flourished in Edo (modern Tokyo). Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia collection, this work highlights Shunsho's influence on later masters like Hokusai and Hiroshige, preserving a fleeting moment of performance art that blurred the lines between stage and street life. A testament to woodblock printing's ingenuity, it invites us to imagine the roar of the crowd and rustle of maple leaves.