DISCOVERART

Katsukawa Shunei

Iwai Hanshirō IV as a Woman with a Sword

1791
color woodblock print

SEE IT IN PERSON

Not currently on view

In the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland · as of July 2026

View at clevelandart.org ↗Plan a visit ↗

Discussion

FROM THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART’S CATALOG

In this unidentified role, Iwai Hanshirō IV is costumed as a woman with long flowing hair, wielding a sword. Men of the Edo period shaved their head from the forehead back to the crown, leaving the side and back hair long, though tied in an updo. Even after the practice was abandoned for Kabuki theater actors specializing in female roles, they kept the custom of concealing the area that would once have been bare, so Hanshirō has a murasaki no bōshi (紫の帽子), or purple headband, attached to his wig.

Source ↗

Be the first to share your thoughts.

Sign in to join the discussion.

Community guidelines

More by Katsukawa Shunei

Onoe Matsusuke I as a Samurai Standing Beneath a Cherry TreeOnoe Matsusuke I as a Samurai Standing Beneath a Cherry TreeSawamura Sojuro III as Enya Hangan in Kanadehon ChushinguraSawamura Sojuro III as Enya Hangan in Kanadehon ChushinguraDancer as Kuzunoha, Fox Spirit Disguised as a WomanDancer as Kuzunoha, Fox Spirit Disguised as a WomanIchikawa Monnosuke II as a Lord Holding a BannerIchikawa Monnosuke II as a Lord Holding a BannerIchikawa Monnosuke II as a SamuraiIchikawa Monnosuke II as a SamuraiIwai Hanshiro IV in a Dance of Seven ChangesIwai Hanshiro IV in a Dance of Seven Changes

More like this

The Actor Arashi Sangoro II as Sakura-maru in the Play Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the First Month, 1772Katsukawa Shunsho — The Actor Arashi Sangoro II as Sakura-maThe Actor Bando Mitsugoro I as Ogata no Saburo Disguised as Yoroya Takiemon in the Play Mure Takamatsu Yuki no Shirahata, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1780Katsukawa Shunkо̄ — The Actor Bando Mitsugoro I as Ogata no Ichikawa Yaozo II as Soga no GoroKatsukawa Shunshō (Japanese, 1726–1792) — Ichikawa Yaozo II The Actor Ichikawa Masuzo I as Soga no Goro in the play "Tokitsukaze Irifune Soga," performed at the Nakamura Theater in the first month, 1758Torii Kiyomitsu I — The Actor Ichikawa Masuzo I as Soga no GThe Actor Sawamura Sojuro III in an Unidentified RoleKatsukawa Shunkо̄ — The Actor Sawamura Sojuro III in an UnidArtworkKatsukawa Shunshō　勝川春章The Actor Segawa Kikunojo III as a Woman of a Samurai FamilyKatsushika Hokusai — The Actor Segawa Kikunojo III as a WomaBando Hikosaburo II as Sanada no YoichiTorii Kiyomitsu (Japanese, 1735–1785) — Bando Hikosaburo II The Actor Ichikawa Yaozo II as Sakura-maru in the Play Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Seventh Month, 1776Katsukawa Shunkо̄ — The Actor Ichikawa Yaozo II as Sakura-maSakata Hangoro III in the Role of Yahazu no YadaheiTōshūsai Sharaku — Sakata Hangoro III in the Role of Yahazu The Actor Matsumoto Koshiro IV as Matsuo-maru in the Play Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Ninth Month, 1773Katsukawa Shunsho — The Actor Matsumoto Koshiro IV as MatsuoActor Sanogawa Ichimatsu II as a Fashionable Young Man (Wakashu)Ippitsusai Buncho — Actor Sanogawa Ichimatsu II as a Fashion