actors Matsumoto Kōshirō IV and Nakamura Matsue I

Katsukawa Shunshō, artist

1726–1792

actors Matsumoto Kōshirō IV and Nakamura Matsue I, 1780, Edo period (1600–1868)

Where object was made: Japan

Material/technique: color woodcut

Dimensions:
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 324 x 227 mm
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 12 3/4 x 8 15/16 in
Sheet/Paper Dimensions (Height x Width): 324 x 227 mm
Sheet/Paper Dimensions (Height x Width): 12 3/4 x 8 15/16 in
Mat Dimensions (Height x Width): 19 x 14 in

Credit line: William Bridges Thayer Memorial

Accession number: 1928.0987

Not on display

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Civic Leader and Art Collector: Sallie Casey Thayer and an Art Museum for KU

In this print, two kabuki performers act out a scene from what was most likely a popular play at the time. Katsukawa Shunshō was well-known for his realistic depictions of actors, which could give viewers the feeling of watching the performance themselves. During the Edo period, many people could not afford the luxury of attending a kabuki drama, but they could purchase and enjoy kabuki-related prints, which allowed them to participate in the popular culture surrounding the theatrical art form. Shunshō not only focuses on creating realistic depictions of the actors, but their costumes and props as well. Take a moment to admire the various patterns and textures within the kimonos. At times viewers would even take fashion inspiration from the fabrics they saw on stage and incorporate them into real garments.