Description
In this image associated with Segawa Kikunojō III’s courtesan role, Katsukawa Shunshō brings two figures together beside a large cylindrical vessel. The taller, richly robed figure at the right holds a round fan, while a more plainly dressed companion occupies the other side. Long clothing and the fan’s curved form give the principal persona a distinctive appearance within the shared setting.
Made around 1776, the work was printed in ink and color on paper. Its subject joins a recognizable performer with a social identity constructed through appearance and performance. Shunshō’s portrait preserves that conjunction beyond the original moment in the theater. The distinction between actor and role gives the figure an added dimension, inviting the viewer to consider both the character made present and the individual whose performance makes that character convincing.
Read our guide to giclée prints or browse the Katsukawa Shunshō collection.
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