The Actor Azuma Tozo III in an Unidentified Role
early 1780s
Medium
Color woodblock print; hosoban
Dimensions
32.2 × 14.5 cm (12 11/16 × 5 11/16 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
31916
Art Historical Context
In the vibrant world of Edo-period Japan (1603–1868), Katsukawa Shunsho captured the allure of kabuki theater through his masterful yakusha-e prints—portraits of actors in dramatic poses. *The Actor Azuma Tozo III in an Unidentified Role*, in the early 178s, exemplifies Shunsho's expertise in this genre. As a leading figure in the Katsukawa school of ukiyo-e ("pictures of the floating world"), Shunsho elevated actor prints with his keen observation of facial expressions, elaborate costumes, and dynamic compositions, making stars like Azuma Tozo III—renowned for female roles, or onnagata—access...