二代目中村助五郎|Kabuki Actor Nakamura Sukegorō II as Kaminari Shōkurō
2nd month, 1780
Medium
One sheet of a pentaptych woodblock prints (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
Dimensions
12 11/32 x 5 5/8 in. (31.4 x 14.3 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, 1918
Accession Number
JP375
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the dazzling world of Edo-period Japan this vibrant woodblock print by Katsukawa Shunshō1726–1792), a master of ukiyo-e—the "pictures of the floating world" that captured fleeting pleasures like theater and fashion. Created in the 2nd month of 1780, this sheet depicts Kabuki actor Nakamura Sukegō II in the role of Kaminari Shkurō, a dynamic character likely from a dramatic play involving swords and heroism. As one panel of a rare pentaptych (a five-sheet composition), it originally formed a grand panoramic scene, showcasing the theatrical spectacle that enthralled urban audiences in ...
About the Artist
Katsukawa Shunshō 勝川春章 (Japanese) · 1726 –1792
Japanese, 1726–1792