Standing figure of an actor of the Ichikawa family, probably Danjuro IV

Description

A standing actor of the Ichikawa family is the subject of this print by Katsukawa Shunshō, probably representing Danjūrō IV. The solitary man stands in a striped robe with a pale outer drape, one hand gathered near the chest. The small gesture gives the standing figure an intimate focus, while the layered clothing makes his theatrical bearing tangible.

The nishiki-e woodblock print uses ink and color on paper and belongs to Shunshō’s Edo-period activity. Its standing presence allows the performer to be encountered directly and individually. Its interest lies in the represented performer rather than a reconstructed dramatic narrative. Shunshō gives the standing figure an individual presence within the image, allowing the connection to the Ichikawa family to deepen recognition while the uncertainty of the specific actor remains part of its identification.

Read our guide to giclée prints or browse the Katsukawa Shunshō collection.