The Fourth Iwai Hanshiro as an Onnadate (Woman Kyokaku)
ca. 1787–90
Medium
Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
Dimensions
12 x 5 5/8 in. (30.5 x 14.3 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, 1918
Accession Number
JP380
Tags
Art Historical Context
This captivating woodblock print by Katsukawa Shunshō captures Iwai Hanshirō IV, a celebrated kabuki actor of the late eighteenth century, in the role of an onnadate—a spirited female gallant or “woman knight” who embodied courage and independence. Created around 1787–90 during Japan’s Edo period, the work reflects the vibrant theater culture of the time, when actors were treated like modern celebrities and their performances inspired countless souvenirs for devoted fans. Shunshō, a leading figure in the Katsukawa school, specialized in actor portraits that conveyed both likeness and dramatic ...
About the Artist
Katsukawa Shunshō 勝川春章 (Japanese) · 1726 –1792
Japanese, 1726–1792