The Actor Ichikawa Danjuro VIII as Matsuwakamaru

Object Details

• Artist

  Utagawa Kuniyoshi 歌川国芳 (1798-1861)

• Label

  Within the format of a circular fan, Ichikawa Danjvro VIII appears against a naturalistic landscape background. Due to the ongoing ban on actor prints imposed in 1842, the actor's name is omitted, but his role is identified as Matsuwakamaru. The straw raincoat over his colorful kimono frames the handsome features of this actor, who was sensationally popular during his brief lifetime. Kuniyoshi's portrait captures the actor at the peak of his career, which began with his debut onstage when he was an infant and ascended swiftly; he assumed the Danjuro name in 1832, when he was still a boy. His popularity was so great that when he played in Sukeroku, the water from the barrel in which he immersed himself to hide from pursuers was sold to his fans.

• Collection

  National Museum of Asian Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Masterful Illusions: Japanese Prints from the Anne van Biema Collection (September 15, 2002 to January 9, 2003)

• Origin

  Japan

• Credit Line

  The Anne van Biema Collection

• Type

  Print

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1700s, 1710s, 1720s, 1770s, 1780s, 1790s, 1730s, 1740s, 1750s, 1760s, 1800s, 1810s, 1820s, 1830s, 1610s, 1650s, 1640s, 1630s, 1620s, 1840s, 1690s, 1680s, 1850s, 1670s, 1860s, 1660s

• Name

  Utagawa, Kuniyoshi

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

  Fans, Theater, Art, Actors and actresses, Edo period, Japan, (1600 - 1868), Japanese Art, Anne van Biema collection, Portraits, Ukiyo-e

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Prints