107 - Shigeharu: Nakamura Utaemon III as Shōki

Shigeharu: Nakamura Utaemon III as Shōki

This is a yakusha-e from 1822-1826, which shows actor Nakamura Utaemon III as Shōki. It is from the series Seven Quick Changes (Shichihenge no uchi) by Ryusai Shigeharu, who lived 1802-1853.

Shōki, the Demon Queller, was a protector against demons and disease. Here he is red, in that colour he protected against smallpox.

101 - Shunkō: Matsumoto Kōshirō IV as Tsurunosuke

Shunkō: Matsumoto Kōshirō IV as Tsurunosuke

Katsukawa Shunkō (1743-1812) was the first artist who made okubi-e, so-called large head portraits. He is considered the creator of the genre.

Here we have an example of his art: Matsumoto Kōshirō IV as Tsurunosuke, a portrait of a kabuki actor in a specific role.

89 - Sharaku: Nakamura Nakazo II as Prince Koretaka...

Sharaku: Nakamura Nakazo II as Prince Koretaka...

This is a typical example of the genius of Tōshūsai Sharaku: Nakamura Nakazo II as Prince Koretaka disguised as the Farmer Tsuchizo in the Play Intercalary Year Praise of a Famous Poem. In a sense, the portrait, which was created in 1795, has three layers. It shows an actor, playing a prince who plays a farmer. And all of them are visible in this face. This ability to catch many individuals in one is what makes Sharaku one of the greatest ukiyo-e masters.

82 - Kunisada II: Actor Bandô Mitsuemon as Akaiwa Gajirô

Kunisada II: Actor Bandô Mitsuemon as Akaiwa Gajirô

Here we have Bandô Mitsuemon as Akaiwa Gajirô, from the series The Book of the Eight Dog Heroes [Hakkenden inu no sôshi no uchi] from 1852. The creator is Utagawa Kunisada II (1823-1880), who was one of Vincent Van Gogh's favourite artists.

71 - Sadamasu: Kataoka Ichizo as Mitsuhide Akechi

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Sadamasu: Kataoka Ichizo as Mitsuhide Akechi

Utagawa Kunimasu, sometimes called Sadamasu, was active about 1830-1854. Besides the probability of his having studied under Kunisada, very little is known about him.

The print is Kataoka Ichizo as Mitsuhide Akechi, from about 1841, a yakusha-e of a sort that is called okubi-e. That is when the picture mainly shows the head, but no complete body.

69 - Kunihiro: Nakamura Shikan II as Nuregami Chôgorô and Nakamura Matsue III as keisei Miyako

Kunihiro: Nakamura Shikan II as Nuregami Chôgorô and Nakamura Matsue III as keisei Miyako

Here we have a yakusha-e by Utagawa Kunihiro, Nakamura Shikan II as Nuregami Chôgorô and Nakamura Matsue III as keisei [courtesan] Miyako in the play Futatsu chôchô kuruwa nikki, from the Kado Theater in Osaka in 1827.

52 - Kunisada: Yakusha-e from the Kawarazaki Theatre 1852

Kunisada: Yakusha-e from 1852

This is a yakusha-e by Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865), Actors Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Nuregami Chôgorô (right), Ichikawa Saruzô I as Yamasaki Yogorô, Iwai Kumesaburô III as Azuma of the Fujiya (center), and Arashi Rikan III as Hanaregoma Chôkichi (left). It shows scenes from the plays Imoseyama Onna Teikin and Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki, at Kawarazaki Theatre in 1852.

Kunisada, sometimes called Toyokuni III, was the superstar of his time, the ukiyo-e artist who had the greatest commercial success during his own lifetime. He was more famous in Japan of his time than Hokusai or Hiroshige.

47 - Hirosada: Nakayama Nanshi II as Umegae and Jitsukawa Enzaburô I as Kajiwara Genta

Hirosada: Nakayama Nanshi II as Umegae and Jitsukawa Enzaburô I as Kajiwara Genta

Here we have a yakusha-e by the technically and artistically skilled Hirosada. This is a portrait of two kabuki actors: Nakayama Nanshi II as Umegae and Jitsukawa Enzaburô I as Kajiwara Genta in the play Hiragana Seisuiki, performed at Naka Theatre in Osaka in the 8th month 1851.

36 - Kuniyoshi: The Okazaki Cat Demon

Kuniyoshi: The Okazaki Cat Demon, about 1850

Utagawa Kuniyoshi loved cats and made innumerable prints with various cat motives. Here he combines cats with yakusha-e. This is a scene from a Kabuki play by Tsururya Namboku IV, "Okazaki Ghost Cat", from 1827. The print was made about 1850, and is called The Okazaki Cat Demon.

33 - Toyokuni I: Actor Iwai Hanshirō V as Sukeroku

Toyokuni I: Actor Iwai Hanshirō V as Sukeroku, 1816

Utagawa Toyokuni (1769-1825), or Toyokuni I, was a very influential ukiyo-e artist, best known for yakusha-e, kabuki motives. He changed the direction of how yakusha-e developed and set the standard for more than a generation. He even influenced the kabuki theatre itself.

Through Toyokuni and his students, who included Kunisada and Kuniyoshi, the Utagawa school became dominant within ukiyo-e, a dominance previously held by the Torii school.

The picture shows an uchiwa-e, a fan print, Actor Iwai Hanshirō V as Sukeroku, from 1816.

Fans of kabuki used to carry a fan (no pun intended) with a picture of their idol. However, there were fan-shaped prints in other sub-genres of ukiyo-e as well.

24 - Hirosada: Kataoka Gadô II as Matsugae Tetsunosuke and Arashi Rikan III as Saibara Kageyu

Hirosada: Kataoka Gadô II as Matsugae Tetsunosuke and Arashi Rikan III as Saibara Kageyu, 1848

Very little is known about Konishi Hirosada (active ca. 1810-1864 or 1865). However, he was the chief representative of the so-called Osaka school, although he had studied under Utagawa Kunimasu and Utagawa Kunisada in Edo. He used several different names, including Utagawa Hirosada.

As the Osaka school in its entirety, Hirosada devoted himself mainly to kabuki motives, yakusha-e. The Osaka school also distinguished itself by quality of material and extraordinary craftsmanship. Their prints have not aged much. Colours are still almost intact.

Hirosada is sometimes regarded as a genius, and perhaps he was. In any case he was an extraordinarily skilful portraitist, with a style that was expressive without being too garish. A tasteful expressionism. In the kabuki motives he shows a fine sense of drama without exaggerating.

This print is Actors Kataoka Gadô II as Matsugae Tetsunosuke (right) and Arashi Rikan III as Saibara Kageyu (left), in the play Meiboku Sendaihagi, performed at the Chikugo Theatre in Osaka in 1948. The print is a part of the series Tales of Renowned Heroes (Kômei buyû den).

16 - Kunihiro: Actor Onoe Tamizo as Tenjiku Tokubei Performing Toad Magic

Kunihiro: Actor Onoe Tamizo as Tenjiku Tokubei Performing Toad Magic - 1832

This is "Actor Onoe Tamizo as Tenjiku Tokubei Performing Toad Magic", a woodblock print by Utagawa Kunihiro. It is a yakusha-e from the kabuki play "Otonikiku ikoku no irifune". The print is from 1832.

Utagawa Kunihiro was active 1815-1841/1843, and belonged to the Osaka school.

13 - Sharaku: Actor Nakayama Tomisaburô, also called Ômiya Kinsha, as Ohisa

Sharaku: Actor Nakayama Tomisaburô, also called Ômiya Kinsha, as Ohide

This is a masterwork by one of the most eccentric artists of ukiyo-e, Tōshūsai Sharaku. Nobody knows who he was, and his career spanned only 10 months in 1794 and 1795. During that short period of time he presented about 150 prints in a unique style, almost exclusively yakusha-e, portraits of kabuki actors. His works are almost ugly, but the strength and powerful expression, and the characterisation of actor and role, reveals true genius.

"Actor Nakayama Tomisaburô, also called Ômiya Kinsha, as Ohisa", is a print from 1794. This is a man playing a woman, which is clearly visible from the facial features. The face is male. Women were forbidden to play in kabuki so all female roles were played by male actors. Such an actor, playing women, was called an Onnagata.

08 - Toyohara Kunichika: Actor Kawarazaki Gonnosuke as Daroku

Toyohara Kunichika - Actor Kawarazaki Gonnosuke as Daroku - approx. 1869

For Toyohara Kunichika (1835-1900), kabuki was a great passion and his most important works were yakusha-e. With one foot in the Meiji era, he was one of the last ukiyo-e masters.

This print is Actor Kawarazaki Gonnosuke as Daroku, and was made about 1869. While the title, as well as literature to which I have access, only says Kawarazaki Gonnosuke, this most likely is Kawarazaki Gonnosuke VII, although I am not entirely certain of the number.

The picture is a yakusha-e, a portrait of a kabuki actor, but also an okubi-e, which is the term for "big head" portraits. The colours illustrate an innovation within ukiyo-e during Kunichika's career: the introduction of aniline colours to Japan. Strong red, blue, and purple aniline shades became common in prints, and they were sometimes exaggeratedly used in the last phase of ukiyo-e, during the Meiji era.

In Kabuki, red make-up indicates anger, forcefulness, and obstinacy.

03 - Kuniyoshi: Kabuki Actor Ichikawa Kodanji IV as the Ghost of Asakura Tôgo

Kuniyoshi: Kabuki Actor Ichikawa Kodanji IV as the Ghost of Asakura Tôgo - 1851

This picture is from a Kabuki play by Segawa Jokô III, Higashiyama sakura sôshi [東山桜荘子], which was performed in the 8th lunar month of 1851 at Nakamuraza, an important theater in Edo.

It is a woodblock print, a yakusha-e, by Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861) and depicts Ichikawa Kodanji IV playing the ghost of the crucified Asakura Tôgo, who seeks revenge on the lord who had him killed for protesting unreasonable taxation. 

Yakusha-e is the sub-genre of ukiyo-e which is dedicated to portraits of kabuki actors and to some extent kabuki scenes.