The Actor Ichikawa Komazo III as Fuji Sakon (?) in the Play Egara Tenjin Risho Kagami (?), Performed at the Nakamura Theater (?) in the Third Month, 1789 (?) c. 1789

This ukiyo-e print, created by Katsukawa Shunsen in 1789, portrays the kabuki actor Ichikawa Komazo III in a dramatic pose as the character Fuji Sakon in the play Egara Tenjin Risho Kagami. Shunsen, a prominent artist of the Katsukawa school, specialized in capturing the powerful presence of kabuki actors on stage, and this print exemplifies his skillful use of line and color to create a dynamic and evocative image. The composition is centered on Komazo, who is dressed in elaborate, richly patterned robes, and the overall design emphasizes the actor's elegant posture and the flowing lines of his costume. This work, like other prints of the period, would have been intended for a broad audience, serving as a record of a popular theatrical performance and showcasing the skill and artistry of both the actor and the printmaker.