Ichikawa Danjuro VII as Kan Shojo in the Mt. Tenpai Scene, from the series Famous Kabuki Plays
Medium
color woodblock print, with mica
Dimensions
38 × 25.9 cm
Classification
Department
Japanese Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
The Kelvin Smith Collection, given by Mrs. Kelvin Smith
Accession Number
1985.333
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
About this artwork
Here, the actor plays the role of an exiled statesman, transforming himself into a vengeful thunder god. The red-and-white make-up style—kumadori, or "shadow painting"—is characteristic of the aragoto manner of portraying heroic roles. The crossed eyes and clenched mouth—in this role a plum blossom branch is added—demonstrates the conventional mie pose used by Kabuki actors to express intense emotion at the most dramatic moment in the play. The audience applauds the actor’s ability to hold this ...