The Actor Yamashita Kinsaku II as Oishi (?) in the Play Kanadehon Chushin Nagori no Kura (?), Performed at the Nakamora Theater (?) in the Ninth Month, 1780 (?)

Art Historical Context

This vibrant color woodblock print by Katsukawa Shunshō captures the actor Yamashita Kinsaku II in a dramatic role from the kabuki play Kanadehon Chushin Nagori no Kura, performed at Edo’s Nakamura Theater in 1780. Created in the hosoban format—measuring just 29.1 by 14.6 centimeters—the work exemplifies the ukiyo-e tradition of actor portraits (yakusha-e) that flourished in late eighteenth-century Japan. Shunshō, a leading figure of the Katsukawa school, specialized in these lively depictions that brought the excitement of the stage to everyday viewers. Such prints served as both souvenirs for theatergoers and records of popular performances, reflecting the deep cultural importance of kabuki in Edo-period society. The elongated hosoban shape allowed artists to emphasize the actor’s expressive pose and elaborate costume, inviting viewers to imagine the movement and emotion of the live performance. Today, this impression in the Art Institute of Chicago’s collection of Asian art offers a vivid window into Japan’s rich theatrical heritage and the golden age of woodblock printing.