Artwork

東洲斎写楽画三代目大谷鬼次の奴江戸兵衛|Kabuki Actor Ōtani Oniji III as Yakko Edobei

東洲斎写楽画三代目大谷鬼次の奴江戸兵衛|Kabuki Actor Ōtani Oniji III as Yakko Edobei is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Tōshū. It dates from 1794 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

The print was made in 1794, when theater stars were like today’s movie celebrities—fans collected these portraits the way we buy posters.

A man in a wild black wig and white face makeup snarls, teeth bared. His red-and-gold robe swirls as he lunges forward, one hand gripping a sword hilt.

This is a kabuki actor playing a rough servant, frozen mid-scene. The print was made in 1794, when theater stars were like today’s movie celebrities—fans collected these portraits the way we buy posters. The white mica background makes the colors pop like glitter under stage lights. No one knows who Sharaku really was; he vanished after only ten months of making prints.

Look up more prints of *actors* to see how other artists drew the same dramatic poses.

Overview

This woodblock print, created in 1794 by Tōshūsai Sharaku, depicts a kabuki actor in a dramatic pose. The artist's identity remains unknown, as they ceased producing work after a mere ten months.

Subject & Meaning

The print shows kabuki actor Ōtani Oniji III as Yakko Edobei, a rough servant character, captured mid-scene with a snarling expression and dynamic movement. The character's attire, including a red-and-gold robe and white face makeup, adds to the dramatic effect.

Technique & Style

The print features a bold composition, with the actor's swirling robe and grasping hand creating a sense of tension. The use of white mica in the background enhances the colors, giving the image a shimmering quality reminiscent of stage lighting.

Context

Produced during a time when kabuki actors were celebrated like modern-day celebrities, this print was likely collected by fans as a memento of the actor's performance, much like a poster or souvenir.