The Actor Iwai Hanshiro IV as Hitomaru Disguised as the Geisha Oshun in the Play Edo no Hana Mimasu Soga, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Third Month, 1783 c. 1783

This woodblock print by Katsukawa Shunkō, a leading artist of the Katsukawa school, depicts the renowned actor Iwai Hanshiro IV as Hitomaru disguised as the geisha Oshun. The print, created around 1783, showcases Shunkō’s mastery of portraying the elegance and grace of Kabuki actors in their roles. The print captures Hitomaru's transformation into Oshun, a pivotal moment in the popular play "Edo no Hana Mimasu Soga." This detailed work, now housed in The Art Institute of Chicago, is a prime example of the “yakusha-e” genre, a form of Japanese art dedicated to depicting Kabuki actors in character.