Promoting Kabuki: Edo-Era Prints from the Nelson-Atkins Collection

Yayoi Shinoda

From portrayals of dramatic moments on stage, to behind-the-stage scenes, images of Kabuki actors garnered great public attention in the Edo period (1615–1868). Kabuki fans purchased woodblock prints portraying their favorite actors. Theaters, publishers, and artists collaborated to create images of star actors and advertised the latest productions for Kabuki enthusiasts. Showcasing pieces from the collection of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, this presentation will introduce Kabuki prints, featuring some beloved repertoires such as Chūshingura (Treasury of Loyal Retainers) and Musume Dōjōji (The Maiden at Dōjōji), in addition to portraits of famous Kabuki actors.

Originally from Tokyo, Yayoi Shinoda is Assistant Curator of Japanese Art at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, MO. She has held curatorial positions at the Nelson-Atkins since 2013 and has contributed to various projects and exhibitions, including the traveling exhibition Weaving Splendor: Treasures of Asian Textiles, which she co-curated in 2021. She holds an M.A. in Art History from the University of Kansas, where she is pursuing a Ph.D. in the history of Japanese art.