The Actor Sawamura Sojuro III in an Unidentified Role c. 1781

This woodblock print, created by Katsukawa Shunkō in c. 1781, portrays the renowned kabuki actor Sawamura Sojuro III in an unidentified role. The detailed depiction of the actor's costume and pose, emphasized by the artist's use of bold lines and vivid colors, showcases the popularity of kabuki theater in 18th-century Japan. The dynamic composition and expressive features of Sawamura Sojuro III capture the energy and emotion of a theatrical performance, making this print a valuable document of Japanese artistic and cultural history. This print, now part of The Art Institute of Chicago's collection, exemplifies the *ukiyo-e* (pictures of the floating world) style, which captured the vibrant and ephemeral aspects of Japanese life during the Edo period.