The Actor Ichikawa Komazo III

Object Details

• Artist

  Katsukawa Shun'ei 勝川春英 (1762-1819)

• Label

  In this print of a scene that would have been continued on additional sheets of identical format, the actor Ichikawa Komazo III (1764-1838) grasps a sword as he stands in a boat beside a large, iron anchor. This print illustrates details of the stage set and props that continued to become more elaborate in later kabuki performances. Komazo changed his name to Matsumoto Koshiro V in 1801, and under that name became famous as a specialist of leading male roles. His eyes, which he could open unnaturally wide, produced a fearsome expression in evil roles, and his prominent nose led to the nickname "Hanadaka" (High Nose) Koshiro.

• 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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  collections.si.edu

• Date

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

• Name

  Katsukawa, Shun'ei

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

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

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Prints