The Actor Yoshizawa Ayame IV as Yadorigi, the Sister of Nikaido Shinanosuke, Disguised as Orie, the Wife of Aoto Magosaburo, in Part Two of the Play Motomishi Yuki Sakae Hachi no Ki (Looking up at Falling Snow: Thriving Potted Trees), Performed at the Nakamura Theater from the First Day of the Eleventh Month, 1778

Q: When was "The Actor Yoshizawa Ayame IV as Yadorigi, the Sister of Nikaido Shinanosuke, Disguised as Orie, the Wife of Aoto Magosaburo, in Part Two of the Play Motomishi Yuki Sakae Hachi no Ki (Looking up at Falling Snow: Thriving Potted Trees), Performed at the Nakamura Theater from the First Day of the Eleventh Month," created?

This artwork was created c. 1778.

Q: Is "The Actor Yoshizawa Ayame IV as Yadorigi, the Sister of Nikaido Shinanosuke, Disguised as Orie, the Wife of Aoto Magosaburo, in Part Two of the Play Motomishi Yuki Sakae Hachi no Ki (Looking up at Falling Snow: Thriving Potted Trees), Performed at the Nakamura Theater from the First Day of the Eleventh Month," in the public domain?

Yes, The Actor Yoshizawa Ayame IV as Yadorigi, the Sister of Nikaido Shinanosuke, Disguised as Orie, the Wife of Aoto Magosaburo, in Part Two of the Play Motomishi Yuki Sakae Hachi no Ki (Looking up at Falling Snow: Thriving Potted Trees), Performed at the Nakamura Theater from the First Day of the Eleventh Month, is in the public domain and available for free download under CC0 license.

Katsukawa Shunkо̄

c. 1778

The Actor Yoshizawa Ayame IV as Yadorigi, the Sister of Nikaido Shinanosuke, Disguised as Orie, the Wife of Aoto Magosaburo, in Part Two of the Play Motomishi Yuki Sakae Hachi no Ki (Looking up at Falling Snow: Thriving Potted Trees), Performed at the Nakamura Theater from the First Day of the Eleventh Month, 1778 by Katsukawa Shunkо̄

Medium

Color woodblock print; hosoban; probably right sheet of diptych

Dimensions

30.5 × 15 cm (12 × 5 7/8 in.)

Classification

woodblock print

Department

Arts of Asia

Museum

Art Institute of Chicago

Accession Number

22181

Rights

Public Domain

View on museum website →

Art Historical Context

This exquisite color woodblock print by Katsukawa Shunkō kabuki star Yoshizawa Ayame IV in the role of Yadorigi, of Nikaido Shinuke, disguised as Or, the wife of Aoto Magaburo. Produced around 1778 to coincide with the play *Motomishi Yuki Sak Hachi no Ki*Looking up at Falling Snow:iving Potted Trees") the Nakamura Theater in Edo (modern Tokyo), it exemplifies *yakusha-e*— portraits that were the rock-star posters of their day. The narrow *hosoban* format (30.5 × 15 cm), likely the right sheet of a diptych, allowed for affordable, intimate viewing by theater fans. Shunkō, a leading figure in the Katsukawa school of ukiyo-e ("pictures of the floating world"), revolutionized actor prints with his bold lines, expressive faces, and dynamic poses that conveyed the emotional intensity of kabuki drama. This work highlights the *onnagata* tradition, where male actors like Ayame IV masterfully embodied female roles, blending grace and intrigue in opulent costumes. Culturally, such prints preserved fleeting performances amid Edo Japan's booming theater scene, bridging art and popular entertainment. Printed via intricate multi-block carving and hand-rubbing for vivid colors, it offers a window into 18th-century Japan's vibrant urban life. (198 words)

About the Artist

Katsukawa Shunkо̄ · 1743–1812

Katsukawa Shunkō I (1743–1812), born Denjiro Kiyokawa in Edo (modern Tokyo), emerged as a pivotal figure in ukiyo-e woodblock printing. His early life remains sparsely documented, but by the late 1760s, he had begun illustrating books such as *Talks about Debut Plays* (*Kaomise shibai banashi*, 1766). Shunkō studied under the master Katsukawa Shunshō, founder and leader of the Katsukawa school, an...

Send Feedback