An Actor as Senzai, from "A Picture Book of Stage Fans (Ehon butai ogi)"
Medium
Color woodblock print; page from illustrated book
Dimensions
24.5 × 15.3 cm (9 5/8 × 6 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
31300
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of 18th-century Japanese theater *An Actor as Senzai*, a stunning color woodblock print by Katsukawa Shunsho from his 1770 illustrated book *A Picture Book of Stage Fans (Ehonai ogi)*. Shunsho, a leading ukiyo-e master of the Edo period, specialized in yakusha-e—lifelike portraits of kabuki actors that captured their dramatic poses and expressive faces. Here, the actor embodies Senzai, a traditional Noh theater attendant known for his lively introduction to the stage, blending the floating world's entertainment with cultural reverence. This intimate page (24.5 × 15...