Artwork

三代目市川高麗蔵の志賀大七|Kabuki Actor Ichikawa Komazō III as Shiga Daishichi in the Play A Medley of Tales of Revenge (Katakiuchi noriaibanashi)

三代目市川高麗蔵の志賀大七|Kabuki Actor Ichikawa Komazō III as Shiga Daishichi in the Play A Medley of Tales of Revenge (Katakiuchi noriaibanashi) is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Tōshūsai Sharaku. It dates from 5 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

His actor portraits feel alive, like snapshots of real emotion, not posed theater.

A man in a dark robe scowls, one hand gripping a sword. His face is pale, lips pressed tight, eyes sharp under heavy brows. The print glows with bold red and black.

Sharaku made this in just ten months, 1794, then vanished. No one knows why. His actor portraits feel alive, like snapshots of real emotion, not posed theater. The white mica background shimmers, a trick to catch the light.

If you like this, look up men, actors, japan for more prints of kabuki stars.

Subject & Meaning

The work depicts the Kabuki actor Matsumoto Kōshirō IV in the role of Shiga Daishichi from the play A Medley of Tales of Revenge (Katakiuchi noriaibanashi). Created as a ōkubi-e (large-head portrait) within the yakusha-e (actor print) genre, the image focuses intensely on the performer's facial expression and characterization rather than full-body action. As a woodblock print from 1794, it captures the specific theatrical persona of the actor during the Edo period.

The subject represents the dramatic intensity associated with revenge narratives in Kabuki theater, showcasing the actor's ability to embody the emotional weight of the character Shiga Daishichi.

Technique & Style

Created in 1794, this work is a woodblock print executed with ink and color on paper. The artist employed white mica to add decorative highlights to the composition. Stylistically, the piece is classified as an ōkubi-e, a format characterized by large-headed portraits that focus intensely on the actor's facial expression and upper torso.

As a nishiki-e, it utilizes multiple blocks to achieve a full-color palette typical of the ukiyo-e genre. The print functions as a yakusha-e, specifically capturing a kabuki performer in character.

History & Provenance

The print was produced in 1794 by Tōshūsai Sharaku, depicting Ichikawa Komazō III in the role of Shiga Daishichi from the revenge-themed play A Medley of Tales of Revenge. It entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which catalogs it as a ukiyo-e portrait within the oku-bi-e and yakusha-e subgenres. The work is recorded under the title 三代目市川高麗蔵の志賀大七 and is attributed to the artist Sharaku.

The piece is classified as a woodblock print using ink, color, and white mica on paper, and it is part of the museum’s holdings of Japanese prints from the late Edo period.

The woodblock print depicting Kabuki Actor Ichikawa Komazō III as Shiga Daishichi is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Created by Tōshūsai Sharaku in 1794, this ōkubi-e portrait is part of the museum's holdings of ukiyo-e prints. The work is cataloged within the institution's collection of Japanese prints, specifically identified as a representation of the actor Matsumoto Kōshirō IV in the role of Shiga Daishichi from the play A Medley of Tales of Revenge.

No specific inventory or accession number is provided in the available sources. Similarly, the provided documentation does not list any specific exhibitions where this work has been displayed. The record confirms the artwork's current location and creator but omits detailed provenance chains or exhibition histories beyond its presence in the museum's collection.

Context

The print portrays the celebrated kabuki star Ichikawa Komazō III in the role of Shiga Daishichi, a character from the dramatized revenge tales that dominated Edo‑era theater. Contemporary critiques highlighted the striking realism of Sharaku’s caricature style, noting how the exaggerated facial features intensified the psychological tension of the narrative. Scholarship on ukiyo‑e has positioned this work within the broader movement of large‑head portraits that emerged in the 1790s, emphasizing its role in elevating actor imagery to fine‑art status.

As part of Sharaku’s prolific output, the piece reflects the cultural intersection of popular performance and visual art in Edo Japan, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of portraiture within the woodblock medium.

Overview

This woodblock print by Tōshūsai Sharaku depicts a kabuki actor in character. Created in 1794, it showcases the artist's unique style and technique.