The Actor Segawa Kikunojo III as Lady Tomoe (Tomoe Gozen) in the Play Yasa Gumbai Miyako no Jindori, Performed at the Miyako Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1793
c. 1793
Medium
Color woodblock print; hosoban
Dimensions
32.4 × 14.5 cm (12 3/4 × 5 11/16 in.)
Classification
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
89328
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of Edo-period kabuki theater with Katsukawa Shun'ei's *The Actor Segawa Kikuno III as Lady TomoeTomoe Gozen) in the Play Yasa G Miyako no Jind*, created around 1793. This color woodblock print captures the renowned onnagata actor Segawa Kikunojo in the role of the fierce warrior woman Tomoe Gozen, a legendary figure from Japanese history known for her bravery in the Genpei War. Produced for a performance at the Miyako Theater in Kyoto during the eleventh month, it exemplifies Shun'ei's mastery in the ukiyo-e tradition, the "pictures of the floating world" that celebrated fleeting pleasures like theater. Printed in the narrow hosoban format—measuring just 32.4 × 14.5 cm—this intimate vertical design was ideal for yakusha-e, or actor portraits, which served as affordable souvenirs and advertisements for kabuki plays. Shun'ei, a leading figure in the Katsukawa school, employed precise woodblock techniques: multiple carved blocks layered vibrant colors and fine lines to convey Kikunojo's expressive pose, elaborate costume, and makeup, bringing the stage to life off it. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia collection, this print highlights kabuki's cultural zenith in late 18th-century Japan, where stars like Kikunojo blurred gender lines through artistry, captivating audiences and collectors alike. A window into theater's allure, it reminds us how ukiyo-e democratized high culture.
About the Artist
Katsukawa Shun'ei · 1762–1819
Katsukawa Shun'ei (1762–1819) was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist who succeeded his master Katsukawa Shunshō as head of the Katsukawa school around 1800, continuing and advancing the school's innovations in kabuki actor portraiture. Born on December 13, 1762, into a landlord family with the surname Isoda, Shun'ei trained under Shunshō from his youth and became one of the most accomplished designers of y...