Description
Iwai Hanshirō IV appears in a female role, standing in an interior with the head turned and the long robe flowing around the feet. Fine patterns enliven the garment, while a band of architectural detail near the top gives the figure a clear setting. Katsukawa Shunshō makes the sweeping hem and carefully held hands part of a measured, elegant pose.
Made in 1773 or 1774, this color woodblock design portrays theatrical expression through small adjustments of bearing. The actor’s role is carried by costume and posture, with the surrounding space kept quiet enough for both to remain visible. Shunshō’s contours guide attention from the face through the sleeve to the trailing fabric. The design’s attraction lies in that continuous movement, allowing a poised figure to feel animated without a large or emphatic gesture.
Read our guide to giclée prints or browse the Katsukawa Shunshō collection.
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