Collection of Pictures of the Actors in the Four Theatres (Shiza yakusha ezukushi), vol 2

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of Edo-period theater with *Collection of Pictures of the Actors in the Four Theatres (Shiza yakusha ezuk)*, volume 2, by Furuyama Moroshige. Thisblock-printed book, held in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts Asia collection, captures the star performers of 18th-century Japan's kabuki scene across the city's four major theaters. Moroshige, a ukiyo-e artist, specialized in yakusha-e—detailed portraits of actors in iconic roles—bringing the drama of the stage to everyday viewers. In the bustling entertainment district of Edo (modern Tokyo), kabuki was a cultural phe...