The Actor Nakamura Tomijuro as Bijomaru in the Drama "Kikujido" Shuen no Iwaya"

Art Historical Context

Step into the dazzling world of Edo-period kabuki theater with Katsukawa Shunkō'sblock print *The Actor Nakamura Tomij as Bijomaru in Drama "Kikuj" Shuen no Iwaya"* (ca. 1773). Shunkō, a leading ukiyo-e artist renowned for his yakusha-e (actor portraits captures the star power of Nakamura Tomijuro I, one of kabuki's most celebrated onnagata (female impersonators), in the role of the dramatic Bijomaru. Created during Japan's vibrant Edo period (1615–1868), this print reflects the "floating world" culture of urban entertainment, where theater icons like Tomijuro were idolized akin to modern celebrities. The narrow hosoban format—measuring just 12½ × 5⅞ inches—made it ideal for affordable albums, fans, or shop displays, democratizing art for everyday viewers. Shunkō's masterful woodblock technique layers vibrant inks and colors on paper to convey motion, intricate costumes, and expressive poses, often highlighting props like musical instruments that underscore kabuki's musical drama. Tags evoke the scene's energy: actors, men in elaborate roles, and instruments blending sight and sound. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art Department (gift of the Estate of Samuel Isham, 1914), this print illuminates kabuki's cultural dominance, where star actors drove fashion and fandom, preserving a snapshot of 18th-century Japan's theatrical golden age.

About the Artist

Katsukawa Shunkō · 1743–1812

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...