Actor Ichikawa Danjûrô V as Sukeroku in “The Seven Guises of Soga” (“Nanakusa Yosooi Soga”)

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 18th-century Edo (modern Tokyo) with this striking woodblock print by Katsukawa Shunkō, a leading master of ukiyo-e—the "pictures of the floating world" that captured Japan's popular culture. Created in 1782, it portrays the renowned kabuki actor Ichikawa Danjûrô V in the guise of Sukeroku from the play *Nanakusa Yosooi Soga* ("The Seven Guises of Soga"). As the narrow hosoban center sheet of a triptych (measuring just 32.5 × 15.1 cm), it invites viewers to imagine the full dramatic scene unfolding across three panels, a common format for immersive storytelling. Shunkō's yakusha-e (actor prints) revolutionized portraiture with bold lines, expressive poses, and vivid colors achieved through intricate woodblock techniques. Multiple carved blocks were inked in precise hues and layered to create depth and life-like flesh tones, making theater stars like Danjûrô V feel intimately present. Sukeroku, a swaggering hero from kabuki lore tied to the legendary Soga brothers' revenge tale, embodied the era's fascination with chivalric disguises and urban bravado. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia collection, this print highlights ukiyo-e's role in democratizing art—affordable and mass-produced for everyday fans. It offers a window into kabuki's golden age, where actors were celebrities, blending artistry, performance, and folklore into enduring cultural icons.

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...