Artwork

五代目市川団十郎|Kabuki Actor Ichikawa Danjūrō V in a Shibaraku (Stop Right There!) Role

五代目市川団十郎|Kabuki Actor Ichikawa Danjūrō V in a Shibaraku (Stop Right There!) Role is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Katsukawa Shunshō. It dates from 11 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

This woodblock print, created by Katsukawa Shunshō, depicts a kabuki actor in a dramatic pose. The work is titled 'Kabuki Actor Ichikawa Danjūrō V in a Shibaraku (Stop Right There!) Role' and is held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The print shows Ichikawa Danjūrō V frozen in motion, wearing a dark red robe with gold patterns and a tall wig. He holds two swords crossed over his chest, his face painted with bold red and white lines, capturing a moment from a kabuki performance.

Technique & Style

The artist employs sharp lines and flat colors to create a striking image, a style characteristic of theater posters designed for quick recognition. The use of ink and color on paper is typical of nishiki-e, a type of Japanese woodblock print.