Actor Onoe Matsusuke as Kanpei c. 1790 - 1793

Katsukawa Shunsho created this woodblock print, depicting the actor Onoe Matsusuke as Kanpei. Here, the artist captures the actor embodying a character weighed down by fate and caught in a moment of grim resolve. Notice the sword, a potent symbol of the samurai class, held not in a display of power, but with a weary grip, suggesting the heavy burden of duty. This echoes across time, recalling images of Roman centurions bearing their arms with exhaustion, or medieval knights kneeling in penitence. The sword transforms from a symbol of martial prowess to an emblem of human suffering under the weight of responsibility. Consider the downcast eyes and the slight slump of the shoulders. This posture speaks volumes, conveying the weight of despair and the psychological impact of the character’s plight. It’s a universal language of sorrow, reminiscent of countless artistic depictions of grief and lamentation throughout history. Thus, Shunsho captures not just an actor in costume, but something more profound, an echo of shared human experiences.