Actor Ichikawa Monnosuke II as Mori no Rammaru in “Muromacho Chronicle in Kana Script” (“Kanagaki Muromachi bundan”)

Art Historical Context

In the vibrant world of 18th-century Edo Japan, Katsukawa Shun'ei (1762–1811), a master of the ukiyo-e school, captured the theatrical energy of kabuki with this striking color woodblock print from about 1791. The work portrays the acclaimed actor Ichikawa Monnos II in the role of Mori no Rammaru, a character from the play *Muromacho Chronicle in K Script* (*Kanagaki Murom bundan*). Shun'ei, trained under the influential Katsukawa Shunshō, excelled in yakusha-e—actor portraits that immortalized the stars of kabuki theater, blending drama and portraiture to evoke the "floating world" of urban entertainment. This hosoban triptych, a narrow-format print composed of three sheets (measuring just 32 × 14.4 cm), showcases the ingenuity of woodblock printing. Artisans carved intricate blocks for each color layer, allowing vibrant hues and dynamic poses to leap from the page. Hosoban prints like this were affordable and portable, popular among theatergoers who collected them as souvenirs, reflecting kabuki's cultural dominance during the Edo period. Held in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia collection, this piece highlights ukiyo-e's role in democratizing art, preserving fleeting performances for everyday audiences and influencing global aesthetics centuries later.

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...