Shunkōsai Hokushū: The Actor Asao Gakujūrō I as Mashiba Hisatsugu (1822)

A dramatic masterpiece of Osaka Kamigata Ukiyo-e (1822) by Shunkōsai Hokushū. The woodblock print captures Kabuki actor Asao Gakujūrō I with glaring eyes and a defiant pose as the samurai Mashiba Hisatsugu, firmly grasping the hilt of his sword, ready to attack.

This powerful depiction features a scene from the play "The Golden Gate and the Paulownia Crest" (Kinmon gosan no kiri), which tells the epic tale of revenge by the legendary rōnin Ishikawa Goemon. The intricate details of the robe are decorated with paulownia leaf motifs and gourd tassels, accompanied by two poems commemorating the actor taking his new stage name.

A stunning example of 19th-century Japanese fine art and historical theatrical storytelling.