Actor Nakamura Nakazō 1st as Sakon-gitsune - Katsukawa Shunshō

A classic ukiyo-e woodblock print by Katsukawa Shunshō, capturing the kabuki actor Nakamura Nakazō I in a dynamic theatrical pose from 1775.

This woodblock print by Katsukawa Shunshō depicts the kabuki actor Nakamura Nakazō I in the role of Sakon-gitsune. The performance took place at the Nakamura Theater in Edo during the eleventh month of 1775, as part of the production Hana-zumō Genji Hiiki. Shunshō was a master of the yakusha-e genre, which focused on portraits of kabuki actors. He moved away from the stylised, generic faces common in earlier ukiyo-e prints, opting instead for realistic depictions that captured the specific features and expressions of individual performers.

In this composition, the actor is captured in a dynamic pose, his body angled to suggest movement. The costume, rendered with clear lines and muted colour blocks, features a blue patterned kimono layered over white garments, accented by a bright orange sash. The background consists of a lattice fence, which provides a geometric contrast to the fluid lines of the actor's robes. A small branch extends from the upper right, adding a touch of natural detail to the stage setting. The print demonstrates the artist's skill in balancing the figure within the narrow vertical format of the hosoban sheet. The focus remains on the actor's intense expression and the theatricality of the moment, reflecting the popularity of kabuki culture in eighteenth-century Japan. Shunshō's approach influenced many subsequent artists, including his pupil Katsushika Hokusai, by establishing a standard for actor portraiture that prioritised individual characterisation over idealised beauty.