五代目市川団十郎|Kabuki Actor Ichikawa Danjūrō V in a Shibaraku (Stop Right There!) Role as Hannya no Gorō

Executed as a nishiki-e, the print employs multiple woodblocks to layer bright pigments, creating a striking contrast between the scarlet cloak, white swirling patterns, and the pale background. Shunshō’s use of sharp angles and bold outlines enhances the sense of immediacy and drama, while the delicate line work defines the actor’s costume details.

Created in the mid‑18th century, the work is part of a series of actor prints that documented popular Kabuki stars for a growing urban audience. It entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art through a 20th‑century acquisition, where it remains on view as an example of Edo‑period ukiyo‑e portraiture.

During the Edo period, actor prints served both as promotional material and as collectible souvenirs for theatergoers. Katsukawa Shunshō, a leading figure of the Katsukawa school, specialized in realistic yet stylized depictions of performers, contributing to the visual culture that celebrated Kabuki’s theatrical spectacle.