Onoe Matsusuke as a Man Standing at Night at Yoshiwara 1768 - 1772

Ippitsusai Bunchō created this woodblock print of Onoe Matsusuke, sometime in the late 18th century, now held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The print presents the actor in a moment of suspended action, his figure framed by the vertical lines of the night setting. Bunchō masterfully uses color and pattern to draw our eye and organize the composition. Notice the interplay of geometric forms: the checkerboard pattern of the actor's robe contrasts with the vertical beams behind him, creating a dynamic tension between figure and ground. The curve of his posture is echoed and countered by the rigid lines of the architectural setting, suggesting a world where nature and culture, spontaneity and order, are in constant dialogue. Consider, too, the way the artist employs color. The muted palette evokes the nighttime setting, and the bold reds and ochres of the actor's costume add a dramatic focal point, drawing the viewer into the intimate world of the Yoshiwara district. Through this combination of visual elements, Bunchō offers not just a portrait but a study in contrasts that captures the mood and atmosphere of his time.