Matsumoto Koshiro IV as the Fish Peddler Gorobei 

Tōshūsai Sharaku's woodblock print presents Matsumoto Koshiro IV in the role of Gorobei, a fish peddler. Created during a brief but intense period in the mid-1790s, this work speaks volumes about the cultural and social dynamics of Edo-period Japan. The print's stark realism and focus on individual character set it apart from traditional idealized portrayals of Kabuki actors. Sharaku's critical eye seems to challenge the very institutions of the Kabuki theater and the star system it promoted. The exaggerated features, like the actor's intense gaze and slightly downturned mouth, suggest a complex, perhaps even subversive, commentary on social roles and class distinctions. Notice how the actor's costume, while colorful, is also decidedly common. Understanding this artwork requires us to consider the political and economic conditions of the time. The rising merchant class, the strict social hierarchy, and the evolving role of art in reflecting these tensions—these are the research pathways that help us interpret Sharaku's intriguing and enigmatic work.