Shunsen's 36-print actor series (1925–1929) was limited to ~150 subscribed copies per design — one of the smallest editions of any major shin-hanga publisher. Portraits of celebrated grand-lineage actors are the most contested at auction; the artist record is $7,575 at Bonhams New York (2020).
Part of Shunsen's celebrated Nigao-e Shu (Collection of Portraits), this double portrait captures two actors in their respective roles from the play Meido no Hikyaku: Ichikawa Shocho II as the faithful courier's wife Umegawa, and Kataoka Gado IV as her lover Chubei. Shunsen presents both figures with equal psychological depth, their contrasting costumes and expressions articulating the doomed love story's emotional stakes. The composition's pairing of onnagata and male actor within a single frame was an unusual solution in [yakusha-e](/glossary/yakusha-e), showing Shunsen's willingness to innovate within the tradition.
1927
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
歌舞伎
Woodblock print
1955
Woodblock print
1928
Color lithograph
1930
Color lithograph
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Collection of Shunsen Portraits: Ichikawa Schocho II as Umegawa and Kataoka Gado IV as Chubei (Shunsen Nigao-e Shu: Ichikawa Shocho II, Kataoka Gado IV) was created by Natori Shunsen (名取春仙).
Yes — Collection of Shunsen Portraits: Ichikawa Schocho II as Umegawa and Kataoka Gado IV as Chubei (Shunsen Nigao-e Shu: Ichikawa Shocho II, Kataoka Gado IV) is part of the Creative Prints: Collection of Portraits of Actors series by Natori Shunsen.
Collection of Shunsen Portraits: Ichikawa Schocho II as Umegawa and Kataoka Gado IV as Chubei (Shunsen Nigao-e Shu: Ichikawa Shocho II, Kataoka Gado IV) was published by Watanabe Shozaburo.
Collection of Shunsen Portraits: Ichikawa Schocho II as Umegawa and Kataoka Gado IV as Chubei (Shunsen Nigao-e Shu: Ichikawa Shocho II, Kataoka Gado IV) depicts kabuki.