Ichikawa Ebijūrō II as Horiguchi Manzaemon and Others - Shunshosai Hokuchō

A dynamic triptych woodblock print by Shunshosai Hokuchō depicting four Kabuki actors in a dramatic scene from the play Eight Views of the Kizu River.

This triptych woodblock print by Shunshosai Hokuchō captures a dramatic scene from the Kabuki play Eight Views of the Kizu River by Boating Song. The composition features four prominent actors of the era, each depicted in a moment of intense physical action. On the right, Ichikawa Ebijūrō II portrays Horiguchi Manzaemon, while Arashi Rikan II appears as Kizu Kansuke, Nakayama Bunshichi III as Hayashi Sanzemon, and Asao Gakujurō as the ferryman Sanjūrō. The work belongs to the Kamigata-e tradition, which refers to prints produced in the Osaka and Kyoto regions, known for their focus on the specific characteristics of local Kabuki performers.

Hokuchō employs a dynamic arrangement to convey the tension of the stage. The figures are positioned in aggressive stances, with swords drawn and bodies angled to suggest movement across the three panels. The artist uses a controlled palette, relying on muted tones for the costumes and a dark, atmospheric background that pushes the actors to the front of the visual field. The expressive facial features, typical of the actor-print genre, communicate the heightened emotions of the characters. The print serves as a record of theatrical performance, documenting the costumes, poses, and stylistic conventions of early nineteenth-century Japanese theatre. The fine lines of the woodblock carving define the folds of the garments and the sharp edges of the weaponry, demonstrating the technical precision required for such multi-panel narrative works. This print provides insight into the popular culture of the Edo period, where the theatre and the print market were closely linked, allowing audiences to collect images of their favourite performers in iconic roles.