The Actor Sanjo Kantaro as a courtesan
c. 1723
Medium
Hand-colored woodblock print; hosoban, urushi-e
Dimensions
34.3 × 15.9 cm (13 1/2 × 6 1/4 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
88881
Art Historical Context
Step into the glittering world of-period Japan (1603–1868) with *The Actor Sanjoaro as a Courtes*, a captivating hand-colored woodblock print Okumura Toshin, created around 1723. This intimate *yakusha-e* (actor print) depicts the celebrated Kabuki performer Sanjo Kantaro I dressed as a glamorous courtesan from the pleasure quarters, her elaborate kimono and poised elegance frozen in Toshinobu's precise lines. Measuring just 34.3 × 15.9 cm in the narrow *hosoban* format, it was designed for personal collection, reflecting the era's obsession with theater stars. Toshinobu, an innovative ukiyo-...
About the Artist
Okumura Toshinobu · 1690–1770
active ca. 1717–1750