Untitled

Katsukawa Shunshō　勝川春章

2nd month, 1780 · Pentaptych of woodblock prints (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper · Asian Art

Famous actors are dressed as chivalrous commoners (otokodate), the fearless street toughs who protected ordinary people from lawless hatamoto samurai. Here, the actors strike their characteristic poses (mie), with Danjuro V appearing leftmost. Shunsho presents the five in kimono on which is the emblem of each particular role, along with actor's family crest. In the designs on Danjuro V's costume are the character sen under crossed hammers on the outer garment (haori) and the family crest of three nested squares on his inner garment, which is partially obscured.

Artist

Katsukawa Shunshō　勝川春章

Date

2nd month, 1780

Medium

Pentaptych of woodblock prints (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper

Culture

Japan

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Purchase, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, 1918 (JP396a-d); Rogers Fund, 1922 (JP396e)