Who created "The Actor Iwai Hanshiro IV in an Unidentified Role"?

The Actor Iwai Hanshiro IV in an Unidentified Role was created by Katsukawa Shunsho in c. 1772.

What medium is "The Actor Iwai Hanshiro IV in an Unidentified Role"?

The Actor Iwai Hanshiro IV in an Unidentified Role is Color woodblock print; hosoban.

Is "The Actor Iwai Hanshiro IV in an Unidentified Role" in the public domain?

Yes, The Actor Iwai Hanshiro IV in an Unidentified Role is in the public domain and available for free download under CC0 license.

The Actor Iwai Hanshiro IV in an Unidentified Role

Q: When was "The Actor Iwai Hanshiro IV in an Unidentified Role" created?

This artwork was created c. 1772.

Katsukawa Shunsho

c. 1772

Medium

Color woodblock print; hosoban

Dimensions

29 × 13.7 cm (11 7/16 × 5 3/8 in.)

Classification

woodblock print

Department

Arts of Asia

Museum

Art Institute of Chicago

Accession Number

31449

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 18th-century Japanese theater with *The Actor Iwai Hansh IV in an Unidentified*, a masterful color woodblock print by Katsukawa Shunsho, created around 1772. Shunsho, a leading figure in the uki-e tradition—"pictures of the floating world"—ized in yakusha-e, or actor portraits that captured the drama and allure of Kabuki stars. Here, the renowned onnagata (female impersonator) Iwai Hanshiro IV strikes a dynamic pose, his elaborate costume and expressive features rendered in the compact hosoban format, measuring just 29 × 13.7 cm, perfect for affordable souvenirs ...

The Actor Iwai Hanshiro IV in an Unidentified Role

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