Descending Geese at Shirahige- Actor Ichikawa Kuzō III as Inga Kozō Rokunosuke by Toyohara Kunichika

Descending Geese at Shirahige- Actor Ichikawa Kuzō III as Inga Kozō Rokunosuke Possibly 1865 - 1867

print, ink, color-on-paper

toned paper

pasteup

water colours

pastel soft colours

muted colour palette

print

collage layering style

japan

handmade artwork painting

ink

color-on-paper

watercolour bleed

watercolour illustration

watercolor

"Descending Geese at Shirahige" is a woodblock print by Toyohara Kunichika (1835-1900) depicting the renowned kabuki actor Ichikawa Kuzō III as Inga Kozō Rokunosuke. The print, which was likely created between 1865 and 1867, captures a moment of intense drama from a play, showcasing the actor's dramatic pose and the bold, colorful design characteristic of Kunichika's work. The print is housed in the Minneapolis Institute of Art and is a fine example of Japanese ukiyo-e art from the mid-19th century.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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Since the 17th century, The Eight Views–originally referring to scenic spots around the Chinese Xiao and Xiang Rivers–has been a well-established theme in Japanese art. Here, the eight locales are taken from famous places in the city of Edo (present-day Tokyo) and are juxtaposed with popular actors in the roles of well-known thieves and robbers. Kabuki plays on the underworld were popular during the mid-19th century, especially during the hot summer months when this series was put on the market, as the storylines were meant to give viewers a chill.