Memorial Portrait of the Actor Ichikawa Ebizo V (Danjuro VII) 1859

This memorial portrait of the actor Ichikawa Ebizo V, also known as Danjuro VII, was created anonymously, and shows the actor with his will. Born into a prominent Kabuki lineage, Ichikawa Ebizo V navigated the complex social hierarchies of 19th-century Japan, a time of strict class distinctions, to become a celebrated figure in popular culture. The print reveals the cultural significance attached to actors during the Edo period. Despite their popularity, actors were often viewed as social outsiders. The image depicts Ebizo in a moment of reflection or perhaps resignation, with the text of his will looming above him. The details of his will, made accessible to the public, highlight a tension between his public persona and private life. It suggests an attempt to control his narrative posthumously in a society marked by rigid social roles. In this context, consider the emotional weight carried by the artist’s portrayal of Ebizo, grappling with identity, legacy, and the gaze of a society that both celebrates and marginalizes him.