Artwork

安達吟光画第二番目五幕目漂流奇譚西洋劇巴里府演劇の場|“Act II, Scene 5: At the Opera in Paris,” from the series The Strange Tale of the Castaways: A Western Kabuki

安達吟光画第二番目五幕目漂流奇譚西洋劇巴里府演劇の場|“Act II, Scene 5: At the Opera in Paris,” from the series The Strange Tale of the Castaways: A Western Kabuki is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Adachi Ginkō. It dates from 1879 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Adachi Ginkō’s woodblock print, dated 1879, depicts the fifth scene of the second act in his series The Strange Tale of the Castaways: A Western Kabuki. Executed as a vertical ōban nishiki-e, the image presents a bustling theatrical moment titled “At the Opera in Paris.” The work is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection.

Subject & Meaning

Costumes are richly patterned—a red‑black checked coat, a blue suit with a green hat, and a gray suit topped by a top‑hat—suggesting a Western operatic setting.

The composition gathers five figures in varied, animated postures before a stylized backdrop of mountains under a dark sky. Costumes are richly patterned—a red‑black checked coat, a blue suit with a green hat, and a gray suit topped by a top‑hat—suggesting a Western operatic setting. The dynamic stance of the central man, poised as if leaping, conveys theatrical excitement and the cross‑cultural curiosity of the period.

Technique & Style

Printed using the nishiki-e method, the piece combines multiple carved blocks to apply ink and vivid pigments on paper, achieving bright, saturated hues. The artist emphasizes exaggerated gestures and bold color contrasts, typical of late‑Edo ukiyo‑e’s shift toward narrative drama. The vertical ōban format allows for a compact yet detailed scene, balancing foreground action with a atmospheric background.

History & Provenance

Created in 1879, the print belongs to a series that blended Japanese kabuki conventions with Western theatrical motifs, reflecting Meiji‑era fascination with foreign culture. It entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection through acquisition in the early 20th century, where it remains catalogued as an example of cross‑cultural printmaking.