Scene of the Devoted Namishichi Committing Suicide from the Play -Oguri Anecdote- c. 1851 - 1854
utagawakunisada
minneapolisinstituteofart
print, ink, color-on-paper
toned paper
water colours
japan
handmade artwork painting
ink
fluid art
color-on-paper
coloured pencil
coffee painting
watercolour bleed
watercolour illustration
watercolor
watercolur painting
This woodblock print, created by the renowned Japanese artist Utagawa Kunisada, depicts a dramatic scene from the play *Oguri Anecdote*. The print showcases the moment when the devoted character Namishichi commits suicide, a pivotal point in the story. Kunisada’s meticulous attention to detail and vibrant colors create a sense of intensity and pathos, capturing the emotional weight of the scene. The composition, with its strong diagonal lines and dynamic figures, emphasizes the drama of the moment, while the use of bright colors adds to the visual impact. This print is a prime example of Kunisada’s mastery of the *ukiyo-e* style, which gained popularity during the Edo period in Japan.
Comments
Actors Nakayama Ichizō as the fisherman Dōhachi, Ichikawa Kodanji IV as the fisherman Namishichi, Arashi Otohachi III as the monk Unten, and Onoe Kikujirō II as Princess Terute in the play Worldly Flowers, an Oguri Anecdote (Sekai no hana Oguri gaiden 世界花小栗外伝), performed at the Nakamura Theater in the 4th month of 1851.
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