Description
Matsumoto Kōshirō IV appears as a samurai, seated in richly patterned robes beneath bands that resemble clouds. The substantial costume gives the figure weight while the seated pose concentrates attention on his presence. Katsukawa Shunshō’s portrait preserves both the named Kabuki performer and the character he assumes, allowing elaborate clothing to establish rank without replacing the individual at the center of the image.
Katsukawa Shunshō made this color woodblock print around 1782, during Japan’s Edo period. Ink and color on paper give a performance a durable visual form, allowing the actor’s role to remain available long after the particular moment has passed. The image invites attention to how a theatrical character can become a portrait without ceasing to be an act of portrayal.
Read our guide to giclée prints or browse the Katsukawa Shunshō collection.
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