Artwork

春好斎北洲画初代市川鰕十郎「紅紫大坂潤」|Kabuki Actor Ichikawa Ebijūrō I as Tōken (China Dog) Jūbei, in the play Benimurasaki ai de someage (Red and Purple, Rich Dyes of Osaka)

春好斎北洲画初代市川鰕十郎「紅紫大坂潤」|Kabuki Actor Ichikawa Ebijūrō I as Tōken (China Dog) Jūbei, in the play Benimurasaki ai de someage (Red and Purple, Rich Dyes of Osaka) is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Shunkōsai Hokushū. It dates from 1822 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

This 1822 woodblock print, executed by the Edo‑period artist Shunkōsai Hokushū, portrays a kabuki performer in full costume. The image is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection and illustrates a scene from the popular play Benimurasaki ai de someage, known in English as “Red and Purple, Rich Dyes of Osaka.”

Subject & Meaning

The figure represents Ichikawa Ebijūrō I in the role of Tōken Jūbei, a character often identified with the “China Dog” archetype. The actor’s solemn expression, stylized hair knot, and white ribbon convey the dramatic intensity typical of kabuki protagonists, while the accompanying kanji above his head identify the role and the play’s title.

Technique & Style

Created using traditional ukiyo‑e woodblock methods, the print combines black ink outlines with vivid pigments on paper. The black robe with a red collar is patterned with stylized white bones and skull motifs, adding texture. Bold line work and a warm beige background enhance contrast, while the precise carving allows fine detail in the costume’s decorative elements.

History & Provenance

Shunkōsai Hokushū produced this work during the late Edo period, a time when actor prints were a major commercial genre. The piece entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection through acquisition in the early 20th century, where it remains catalogued as an example of early 19th‑century kabuki portraiture.