The Actor Sakata Hangoro II as Hige no Ikyu in the Play Shida Yakata Yotsugi no Hikibune, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Fifth Month, 1782 c. 1782

This ukiyo-e print by Katsukawa Shunkō depicts the actor Sakata Hangoro II as Hige no Ikyu in the play *Shida Yakata Yotsugi no Hikibune*, which was performed at the Ichimura Theater in 1782. The print captures the actor in a dynamic pose, with a long, flowing robe and a sword in his hand. The image's vibrant colors and detailed design are characteristic of the artist's distinctive style, known as the Katsukawa School. Ukiyo-e, meaning "pictures of the floating world," was a popular genre of Japanese art depicting everyday life, theatre, and other aspects of popular culture.