Memorial Portrait of the Actor Segawa Roko IV
Medium
Color woodblock print; oban
Dimensions
39.4 × 26.3 cm (15 1/2 × 10 5/16 in.)
Classification
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
23775
Art Historical Context
In the vibrant world of Edo-period Japan (1603–1868), Utagawa Toyokuni (1769–1825) crafted this poignant *Memorial Portrait of the Actor Segawa Roko IV* in 1812. A master of ukiyo-e—"pictures of the floating world"—okuni specialized in yakusha-e, dynamic prints celebrating kabuki theater stars. This oban-sized color woodblock print (39.4 × 26.3 cm) immortalizes Segawa Roko IV, a renowned onnagata (female role specialist), shortly after his passing, blending reverence with the theatrical flair that defined his career. Toyokuni's technique shines through the woodblock process: intricate carving...
About the Artist
Utagawa Toyokuni I · 1777–1835
Japanese, 1777–1835