Shinagawa Station- (Actor Matsumoto Kōshirō V as) Banzui Chōbei by Utagawa Kunisada

Shinagawa Station- (Actor Matsumoto Kōshirō V as) Banzui Chōbei c. 1852

print, ink, color-on-paper

childish illustration

cartoon like

egg art

print

japan

handmade artwork painting

ink

color-on-paper

spray can art

watercolour bleed

watercolour illustration

cartoon style

cartoon carciture

watercolor

This 1852 woodblock print by Utagawa Kunisada depicts the kabuki actor Matsumoto Kōshirō V as the character Banzui Chōbei. Known for his expressive style and dynamic compositions, Kunisada captures Chōbei's exaggerated features and the vibrancy of his costume with striking detail. The background, showcasing the bustling port of Shinagawa, emphasizes the character's role in a popular kabuki play. This work exemplifies the artistic tradition of ukiyo-e, capturing a slice of Edo-era Japanese life through the lens of theater and everyday scenes.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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No. 2 in the series. The actor Matsumoto Kōshirō V (1764–1838) is presented as the chivalrous townsman Banzui Chōbei. We see him after arriving in his palanquin (a small boxlike carriage carried by attendants) at the execution ground near Shinagawa, where the handsome murderer Shirai Gonpachi is being attacked by a band of robbers. After Gonpachi defeats the robbers with his elegant swordsmanship, Chōbei approaches Gonpachi and the two men become friends.