The actor Ichikawa Komazo III as Shiga Daishichi
1794
Medium
Color woodblock print; oban
Dimensions
34.6 × 23.5 cm (13 5/8 × 9 5/16 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
89410
Art Historical Context
Behold the intense gaze of *The Actor Ichikawa Komazo III as Shiga Daishichi*, a masterpiece of Japanese ukiyo by the enigmatic Tōshūsai Sharaku, created in 1794. This color woodblock print captures the kabuki star in a dramatic role from a popular play, his exaggerated features—oversized head, furrowed brow, and vivid makeup—conveying raw emotion and theatrical prowess. At 34.6 × 23.5 cm in the standard oban format, it invites viewers into the vibrant world of Edo-period (1603–1868) theater culture, where actors were celebrities akin to modern idols. Sharaku, active for just 18 months and pr...
About the Artist
Tōshūsai Sharaku · 1794–1795
Tōshūsai Sharaku stands as one of the most enigmatic figures in Japanese art history, a ukiyo-e printmaker whose brilliant career blazed for just ten months from the summer of 1794 to early spring 1795. Active exclusively in Edo (modern Tokyo), he produced approximately 150 woodblock prints and sketches, primarily yakusha-e—intimate portraits of kabuki actors captured mid-performance. Published by...