Portrait of the Actor Matsumoto Kōshirō IV

Katsukawa Shun'ei, artist

1762–1819

Portrait of the Actor Matsumoto Kōshirō IV, 1794, Edo period (1600–1868)

Portfolio/Series title: untitled series of actor portraits with mica-dusted backgrounds

Where object was made: Japan

Material/technique: mica; color woodcut

Dimensions:
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 314 x 215 mm
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 12 3/8 x 8 7/16 in
Mat Dimensions (Height x Width): 19 x 14 in

Credit line: Museum purchase

Accession number: 1982.0127

Not on display

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Label texts

Exhibition Label:
"Inspired by Japan," Mar-2003, Cori Sherman
Shunei is credited with pioneering the bust portrait (okubie) early in the 1790s. This portrait is of a popular actor in a dramatic facial pose with crossed eyes (mie) that indicates a thrilling moment of theatrical action in a kabuki play. Shunei is also believed to have originated the use of the glittery mica flecks in the background pigments of his actor prints in 1794. The special effect proved to be very popular with the buying public, and other artists adopted it freely.

Archive Label date unknown:
As a student of Katsukawa Shunshō, a pioneer of actor portraiture in prints, Shunei explored the genre further to produce okubie, or large head pictures, of the most popular actors of the early 1790s. His expressive portrait shows the actor Matsumoto Kōshirō IV (1737-1802) in a dramatic mie facial pose with crossed eyes. The print's mica background is a luxury that along with the okubie style was outlawed in 1800, when new sumptuary bans were put in effect. Shunei is believed to have originated the use of the glittery mica in the backgrounds of his actor prints during the first month of 1794. The special effect proved to be very popular, and other artists adopted it freely.