The Actors Sanjo Kantaro II as Osome and Ichikawa Monnosuke as Hisamatsu in the play "Osome Hisamatsu Tamoto no Shiro Shibori," performed at the Morita theater, 1720
c. 1720
Medium
Hand-colored woodblock print; hosoban, beni-e
Dimensions
33 × 16 cm (13 × 6 5/16 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
19490
Art Historical Context
In the vibrant world of Edo-period Japan, Okumura Masanobu's *The Actors Sanjo Kantaro as Osome and Ich Monnosuke as His* (c. 1720) captures a thrilling moment from the kabuki play *Osome Hisamatsu Tamoto no Shibori* at the Morita theater. This-colored woodblock print showcases two star performers in their iconic roles: Sanjo Kant II as the devoted Osome and Ichikawa Monnosuke as her lover Hisamatsu, embodying the tragic romance that captivated audiences with its themes of forbidden love and sacrifice. Masanobu, a pioneering ukiyo-e artist active in early 18th-century Tokyo, specialized in ya...
About the Artist
Okumura Masanobu · 1686–1764
Japanese, 1686–1764