The Actors Ichikawa Monnosuke II as Karigane Bunshichi, Bando Mitsugoro I as An no Heibei, Ichikawa Danjuro V as Gokuin Sen'emon, Nakamura Sukegoro II as Kaminari Shokuro, and Sakata Hangoro II as Hotei Ichiemon (right to left), in "Gonin Otoko" (Five Chivalrous Commoners), an Interlude in Part Two of the Play Hatsumombi Kuruwa Soga (A Soga Drama on the First Festival Day in the Pleasure District), Performed at the Nakamura Theater from the First Day of the Second Month, 1780
c. 1780
Medium
Color woodblock print; hosoban; pentaptych
Dimensions
31.3 × 14.5 cm (12 5/16 × 5 3/4 in.); 31.3 × 14.1 cm (12 5/16 × 5 9/16 in.); 31.3 × 14.5 cm (12 5/16 × 5 3/4 in.); 31.3 × 14.8 cm (12 5/16 × 5 13/16); 31.3 × 14.1 cm (12 5/16 × 5 9/16 in.) (right to left)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
109394
Art Historical Context
This vibrant pentaptych woodblock print by Katsukawa Shunsho captures a thrilling moment from kabuki theater in 1780 Edo (modern Tokyo). Titled *The Actors Ichikawa Monuke II as Karig Bunshichi, B Mitsugoro I as no Heibei, Ichikawa Danjuro V as Gokuin Sen'emon Nakamura Sukegoro II Kaminari Shok, and Sakata Hang II as Hotei Ichiemon (right to left), in "Gonin Otoko" (Five Chivalrous Commoners)*, it depicts five star actors in dynamic poses during an interlude from the play *Hatsumombi Kuruwa Soga*, performed at the Nakamura Theater. Shunsho, a leading ukiyo-e master of yakusha-e (actor portrait...