Ichikawa Danjuro IX als Kezori Kyuemon
Medium
color woodcut
Dimensions
239; 350
About this artwork
collector's mark: Lugt 2760
Art Historical Context
Behold the vibrant *Ichikawa Danjūrō IX as Kezori Kyūemon* (1898), a color woodcut by Toyoh Kunichika, a of ukiyo-e—Japan's "pictures of the world." This intimate print (350 × 239 mm) captures the legendary kabuki actor Ichikawa Danjūrō IX in the role of Kezori Kyūemon, a cunning samurai from traditional theater. Kunichika, active in the late 19th century, excelled in yakusha-e (actor portraits), freezing dramatic mie poses that embodied kabuki's theatrical flair amid Meiji-era modernization. Crafted through meticulous woodblock printing, the artwork showcases layered colors from multiple blo...
About the Artist
Toyohara Kunichika · 1835–1900
Japanese, 1835–1900