Actor Matsumoto Kōshirō VII as the White-Bearded Ikyū by Natori Shunsen

Actor Matsumoto Kōshirō VII as the White-Bearded Ikyū Possibly 1929

woodblock-print, print

woodblock-print

egg art

print

caricature

pop art

japan

handmade artwork painting

animal drawing portrait

portrait drawing

watercolour illustration

cartoon style

portrait art

fine art portrait

This woodblock print, "Actor Matsumoto Kōshirō VII as the White-Bearded Ikyū", showcases the artistry of Natori Shunsen, a prominent Japanese printmaker. The print depicts a kabuki actor in a dramatic portrayal of a character known as "White-Bearded Ikyū," a famed Zen monk from the Muromachi period. Shunsen’s masterful use of color and detail captures the actor’s intense expression and the intricate patterns of the costume, including a dragon motif that symbolizes power and wisdom. This print is a compelling example of the enduring legacy of kabuki theater in Japanese art.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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First design of the supplement set. Based on Matsumoto Kōshirō VII as the White-Bearded Ikyū, in reality Iga Heinaizaemon, in the scene Miuraya kōshi saki of the play Sukeroku: Yukari no Edo zakura 助六由縁江戸桜　三浦屋格子先 (Sukeroku: Flower of Edo), performed at the Kabuki Theater, March 1929. Ikyū (identified by the long white beard) is a wealthy old samurai who tries to come between the lovers Hanakawado Sukeroku, a dashing otokodate (chivalrous commoner) and the beautiful prostitute Agemaki of the Miuraya.