Actor Ichimura Uzaemon as Naoji, Taishô period, circa 1925?

Dating to approximately 1925, this [shin-hanga](/glossary/shin-hanga) portrait captures Ichimura Uzaemon in the role of Naoji, a character associated with domestic dramas that were a staple of the Taisho-era kabuki repertoire. Ichimura Uzaemon XV was among the most celebrated actors of his generation, and Shunsen's rendering would have served both as a keepsake for theatergoers and as a document of performance. Shunsen's approach to [yakusha-e](/glossary/yakusha-e) emphasizes psychological individuality over the more stylized conventions of earlier Edo-period actor prints: the facial modeling is observational, using fine gradations of color and delicate [bokashi](/glossary/bokashi) to suggest three-dimensional form. The composition is typically bust-length, with costume and wig accurately depicting the character's social station within the play. The print exemplifies the shin-hanga movement's synthesis of traditional woodblock technique with a more naturalistic, modern treatment of the human face.