Actor Matsumoto Kōshirō V as Banzui Chōbei c. 1833
utagawakunisada
minneapolisinstituteofart
print, ink, color-on-paper
quirky illustration
childish illustration
cartoon like
cartoon based
caricature
japan
cartoon sketch
personal sketchbook
ink
color-on-paper
watercolour illustration
cartoon style
cartoon carciture
This *ukiyo-e* woodblock print by Utagawa Kunisada depicts kabuki actor Matsumoto Kōshirō V as Banzui Chōbei, a character from a popular play. Created in c. 1833, the print showcases Kunisada's mastery of portraying actors in their theatrical roles, using bold lines and vibrant colors. The central focus is the actor's exaggerated features and dramatic pose, conveying the character's personality and the energy of a live performance. The print is a fine example of *yakusha-e*, a genre of Japanese woodblock prints that depict actors and theatrical scenes.
Comments
Related to the plav "Mitsu ichō gozonji no Edo-zome" 三銀杏御存地染, performed at the Nakamura Theater, 1833, fifth month. Utagawa Kunisada’s bust portraits from the 1820s and 1830s typically show actors against a plain background accompanied by poems composed by the portrayed actors. Here, the portrait is fan shaped, allowing the image to be cut out and affixed to an actual fan. This series is also an early example of product placement, as a packet of Bien Senjokō face powder appears at the bottom of each print. It seems that the prints were delivered together with the powder or that the producer of the powder paid for some of the production costs of the print.
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