Memorial Portrait of the Actor Onoe Kikugoro IV
1860
Medium
Color woodblock print; oban
Classification
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
23906
Art Historical Context
In the vibrant world of 19th-century Japanese ukiyo-e prints, the *Memorial Portrait of the Actor Onoe Kikugoro IV* stands as a poignant tribute from the esteemed Utagawa School. Created in 1860 during the late Edo period, this color woodblock print in oban format (about 10 by 14 inches) captures the likeness of Onoe Kikugoro IV, a celebrated kabuki performer known for his dynamic roles. The Utagawa School, renowned for its mastery of actor portraits (yakusha-e), immortalized theater stars like Kikugoro, blending realism with dramatic flair to evoke their stage presence. Woodblock printing te...