Artwork

勝川春章画二代目小佐川常世・五代目市川団十郎|Kabuki Actors Osagawa Tsuneyo II and Ichikawa Danjūrō V

勝川春章画二代目小佐川常世・五代目市川団十郎|Kabuki Actors Osagawa Tsuneyo II and Ichikawa Danjūrō V is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Katsukawa Shunshō. It dates from 1784 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This diptych of woodblock prints, created around 1784, depicts two kabuki actors.

About this work

Overview

This diptych of woodblock prints, created around 1784, depicts two kabuki actors. It is the work of Katsukawa Shunshō, a Japanese artist, and is now held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The print shows two actors, Osagawa Tsuneyo II and Ichikawa Danjūrō V, in elaborate costumes. Their attire and props, including a fan, bow, and sword, suggest specific roles. The actors' faces are rendered in a stylized black-and-white makeup style, characteristic of kabuki theater.

Technique & Style

The artist employed bold, flat colors and sharp black outlines to create a striking image. Reds, greens, and golds dominate the composition, set against a simple background featuring bamboo and a wooden lattice. The use of clean lines and flat colors emphasizes the actors' dramatic poses.