Actor Ichikawa Ebizō IX as Togashi Saemon in The Subscription List (Kanjinchō) by Natori Shunsen

Actor Ichikawa Ebizō IX as Togashi Saemon in The Subscription List (Kanjinchō) 1958

drawing

cartoon like

cartoon based

pastel soft colours

egg art

caricature

japan

handmade artwork painting

watercolour illustration

cartoon style

cartoon carciture

portrait art

This woodblock print by Natori Shunsen, created in 1958, depicts the kabuki actor Ichikawa Ebizō IX as the character Togashi Saemon from the play *The Subscription List* (Kanjinchō). The work is a striking example of *yakusha-e*, or actor prints, a popular genre of Japanese art that celebrated the performers of kabuki theater. Shunsen's meticulous attention to detail captures the actor's facial expressions and the intricate costumes of the play. The print's vibrant colors and dynamic composition are a testament to Shunsen's mastery of the woodblock printing technique.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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This watercolor study was to be produced into a print, however, the print was never realized. Ichikawa Ebizō IX (1909-1965) played Togashi Saemon in Kanjinchō (The Subscription List) in October of 1957 at Tokyo’s Kabuki Theater—a production that toured to Osaka (Nov. 1957) and Nagoya (April 1958). Set in the 12th century, The Subscription List is one of the most popular kabuki plays. Togashi is captain of the guards at the Ataka Gate charged with stopping the disguised Yoshitsune, leader of the Minamoto forces, and his party.