Monnosuke Ichikawa, Actor Portrait by Sharaku (1794)

Tōshūsai Sharaku’s Artwork

Tōshūsai Sharaku’s 二代目市川門之助の伊達与作
(Ichikawa Monnosuke II as Date Yosaku) is a powerful ukiyo-e artwork depicting the kabuki actor
Ichikawa Monnosuke II in one of his dramatic roles.
This print exemplifies Sharaku’s distinctive style of capturing psychological intensity
and theatrical dynamism in late 18th-century kabuki portraiture.

The Artwork: 二代目市川門之助の伊達与作

This print portrays Ichikawa Monnosuke II playing Date Yosaku,
a character from the kabuki play Koinyōbō Somewake Tazuna,
performed at the Kawarazaki-za theater in May 1794.
The story draws on a dramatic household conflict involving Date Yosaku,
a retainer in the Yūki family, and his struggle with intrigue and moral dilemmas.
Sharaku’s depiction is notable for its intense facial expression,
particularly the actor’s distinctive hooked nose and tightly closed lips,
which emphasize the role’s turbulent and resolute nature.
The richly detailed costume and the four-leafed maple crest (yotsu momiji) signify the actor’s identity,
while the stark black mica background heightens the theatrical impact of the composition.

About Ichikawa Monnosuke II

Ichikawa Monnosuke II (1743–1794) was a leading Edo-period kabuki actor,
renowned for his powerful tachiyaku (male lead) roles across serious drama and action plays.
Belonging to the prestigious Ichikawa lineage,
he was admired for his vigorous performances and commanding stage presence.
Monnosuke II excelled in roles of complexity and intensity,
with portrayals like Date Yosaku regarded as among his finest work,
capturing both emotional depth and dramatic flair that resonated strongly with Edo audiences.

Significance of the Portrait

Sharaku’s portrait of Ichikawa Monnosuke II as Date Yosaku encapsulates the psychological and theatrical vitality of kabuki.
The print transcends simple representation, instead balancing realism with stylization to reveal the actor’s inner turmoil
and the drama of the performance.
The masterful composition and expressive immediacy make this portrait one of the hallmarks of Sharaku’s brief but influential career,
demonstrating his genius for transforming kabuki actors into immortal icons of ukiyo-e art.

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