The Actor Ichikawa Ebizo I as Sukeroku

Dated about 1749 and held in the Art Institute of Chicago, this hand-colored vertical oban diptych urushi-e depicts Ichikawa Ebizo I (later known as Ichikawa Danjuro II, 1688-1758) in the iconic role of Sukeroku, the dashing Edo townsman-hero whose play Sukeroku yukari no Edo-zakura was first staged in 1713 and became one of the defining works of the Ichikawa family's kabuki repertoire. Sukeroku, with his purple headband (murasaki hachimaki), his ostentatious swagger, and his rivalry with the wealthy elder samurai Ikyu over the courtesan Agemaki, embodied the chivalrous Edo townsman ideal (otokodate), and Ebizo I's interpretation of the role made it a signature piece of the Ichikawa lineage. The vertical oban diptych format, in which two oban sheets are stacked vertically to produce a monumental composition approaching the proportions of a hanging scroll, was one of Masanobu's signature publishing innovations. The format gave him room to render Ebizo I as a full-length monumental figure with all the swagger and theatrical bravado the role demanded. The urushi-e finish, with its glossy black ink and metallic accents, enhanced the print's status as a luxury object. The print exemplifies Masanobu's mature yakusha-e practice and his commercial control over format innovations through the Okumuraya.