The Actor Ichikawa Monnosuke II as Tsunewaka-maru in the Play Iro Moyo Aoyagi Soga, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Second Month, 1775

Art Historical Context

In the vibrant world of 18th-century Edo (modern Tokyo), Ippitsusai Buncho captured the theatrical glamour of kabuki with this striking color woodblock print from around 1775. Titled *The Actor Ichikawa Monnos II as Tsunewaka-maru in the Playro Moyo Aoyagi Soga*, it depicts the celebrated onnagata (female role specialist) in a dramatic pose from a performance at the Nakamura Theater during the second lunar month. Buncho, a master of the ukiyo-e ("pictures of the floating world") tradition, rivaled contemporaries like Suzuki Harunobu with his elegant yakusha-e (actor prints), blending realism and stylization to immortalize stage stars. Printed in the compact hosoban format—measuring just 32.8 × 15 cm—this narrow, half-sheet design was ideal for affordable souvenirs fans could carry home. The intricate woodblock technique layered vibrant colors through precise carving and multiple blocks, highlighting Monnosuke II's expressive costume, flowing hair, and intense gaze, evoking the play's tale of loyalty and tragedy from the Soga brothers' legend. Such prints fueled kabuki's cultural frenzy, making theater accessible beyond the elite. Held in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia collection, this work exemplifies how ukiyo-e democratized art, preserving fleeting performances for posterity and showcasing Japan's golden age of printmaking.