Bandō Hikosaburō II Dressed as a Komuso and Carrying the Flute and Hat 1761

This 1761 ukiyo-e print by Ishikawa Toyonobu depicts the kabuki actor Bandō Hikosaburō II dressed as a komuso, a wandering Buddhist monk. The actor is shown carrying a flute and hat, both typical komuso attributes, and wearing a distinctive straw raincoat, highlighting the komuso's simple lifestyle. The use of bright colors and dynamic lines is characteristic of Toyonobu's style, capturing the dynamism and allure of the Edo period stage. This print, now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, reflects the popularity of kabuki theater and the reverence for komuso aesthetics in 18th-century Japan.