The Actor Ichikawa Komazo III as Katanaya Hanshichi in the Play Heike Hyobanki, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Ninth Month, 1789 c. 1789

This ukiyo-e woodblock print, created by Katsukawa Shunkō in 1789, depicts the renowned kabuki actor Ichikawa Komazo III as Katanaya Hanshichi in the play Heike Hyobanki. The print, which captures the actor in mid-performance, showcases Shunkō’s masterful ability to convey the dynamism and theatricality of kabuki. The intricate details of the actor’s costume, including his patterned kimono and elaborate headwear, are rendered with precision. The composition, with the actor placed against a background of stylized foliage, evokes a sense of drama and grandeur. This print, a testament to the enduring popularity of kabuki, is a valuable artifact of Japanese theater history.