Artwork
Ichikawa Monnosuke II as Urabe Suetake, Onoe Matsusuke I as Usui Sadamitsu, and Nakamura Nakazo I as Watanabe no Tsuna in “The Four Heavenly Kings Costumed as the Night Watch”
Ichikawa Monnosuke II as Urabe Suetake, Onoe Matsusuke I as Usui Sadamitsu, and Nakamura Nakazo I as Watanabe no Tsuna in “The Four Heavenly Kings Costumed as the Night Watch” is a print by the Romanticist artist Katsukawa Shunzan. It dates from 1781 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
This triptych print depicts three actors portraying characters from a narrative based on the legendary protectors of Minamoto Yorimitsu, known as the Shitennō or Four Heavenly Kings.
Subject & Meaning
The depicted figures represent three of the four guardians, identifiable by the large house crests on their robes. Onoe Matsusuke I's character is specifically indicated by a fan with the 'matsu' (pine) ideograph near his breastplate.
Technique & Style
Character identification relies on symbolic elements like crests and the 'matsu' fan, typical of ukiyo-e's narrative detail. For similar stylistic approaches, compare with works by Katsukawa Shunzan.
History & Provenance
No specific historical or provenance details are provided for this triptych beyond its depiction of actors in character.
Context
The work reflects the ukiyo-e tradition of depicting theatrical performances, blending religious references (Four Heavenly Kings) with theatrical culture.
Legacy
The legacy of this piece is not explicitly outlined, but it contributes to the broader understanding of ukiyo-e's role in capturing Edo-period theatrical and cultural narratives.
Artist & collection
Ichikawa Monnosuke II as Urabe no Suetake
Ichikawa Ebijūrō II as Horiguchi Manzaemon (right), Arashi Rikan II as Kizu Kansuke, Nakayama Bunshichi III as Hayashi Sanzemon (center), and Asao Gakujurō as the Ferryman Sanjūrō (left) from the Kabuki Play "Eight Views of the Kizu River by Boating Song"
Arashi Rikan II as Kizu Kansuke and Nakayama Bunshichi III as Hayashi Sanzemon from the Kabuki Play "Eight Views of the Kizu River by Boating Song"
Ichikawa Ebijūrō II as Horiguchi Manzaemon from the Kabuki Play "Eight Views of the Kizu River by Boating Song"