The Actor Ichikawa Ichizo I as Gokumon no Shobei

Detail of a pattern
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At A Glance

  • Period

    1827
  • Geography

    Japan
  • Material

    Ink and color on paper
  • Dimension

    H x W (overall): 38 x 25.4 cm (14 15/16 x 10 in)
  • Accession Number

    S2004.3.252
  • EDAN ID

    edanmdm:fsg_S2004.3.252

Object Details

  • Artist

    Kunihiro (fl. ca. 1816-1841)
  • Label

    Many Osaka actor prints display distinctive color schemes and design features such as the flat background here, which has a bold pattern resembling a textile design. The crosshatching of white lines and the triple-line pattern of the actor's costume are created by leaving the paper unprinted. The actor's name and role are supplied in boldly stylized red calligraphy in which the unusually large characters are patterned with the small white circles of a tie-dyed textile. The background pattern resembles the crest of the Ichikawa family of kabuki actors.
  • 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

    There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

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