The Second Ichikawa Komazo in the Role of Yanekozo 1794

Katsukawa Shun'ei created this woodblock print of the actor Ichikawa Komazo, probably in the 1790s, as part of the vibrant theater culture of Edo-period Japan. Prints like this weren't just art; they were fan collectibles, celebrity endorsements, and advertisements all rolled into one. Shun'ei was known for his portraits of Kabuki actors, and here he captures Ichikawa in character as Yanekozo, likely a disreputable, lower-class figure, perhaps a street urchin. The actor's costume, especially its disheveled state, sends a clear message to the audience about the social role he is playing. The setting, a riverbank, gives us a sense of the world these plays occupied. These prints were often commissioned by theater owners or the actors themselves, as part of a complex system of cultural and economic exchange. By studying playbills, diaries, and other records, we can understand how these images functioned in their own time, and how they helped shape the cultural landscape of Edo Japan.