Artwork

三代目瀬川菊之丞|Kabuki Actor Segawa Kikunojō III in a Female Role

三代目瀬川菊之丞|Kabuki Actor Segawa Kikunojō III in a Female Role, by Katsukawa Shun'ei 勝川春英, ink, 1788
三代目瀬川菊之丞|Kabuki Actor Segawa Kikunojō III in a Female Role, by Katsukawa Shun'ei 勝川春英, ink, 1788

三代目瀬川菊之丞|Kabuki Actor Segawa Kikunojō III in a Female Role is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Katsukawa Shun'ei 勝川春英. It dates from 1788 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This woodblock print, created in 1788 by Katsukawa Shun'ei, depicts Kabuki Actor Segawa Kikunojō III in a female role.

About this work

Overview

This woodblock print, created in 1788 by Katsukawa Shun'ei, depicts Kabuki Actor Segawa Kikunojō III in a female role. The print is held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The print shows the actor in a dramatic pose, wearing bright, patterned robes and white face paint with bold black lines, indicating a female character in a kabuki performance. The setting includes a tree with green leaves and a stormy sky.

Technique & Style

The artist employed sharp, expressive lines to convey movement and emotion, a characteristic technique in woodblock printing. The use of bold lines and contrasting colors creates a dynamic visual effect.

Context

The actor's costume and makeup are typical of kabuki theater, where male actors often play female roles. The dramatic pose and stormy background suggest a pivotal moment in a performance.

Artist & collection