「団七九郎兵衛」|Nakamura Utaemon IV as Danshichi Kurobei
Utagawa Kunimasu 歌川国升
1850 · Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper; vertical chūban · Asian Art
The superstar Utaemon IV performs in a vendetta play surrounding the violent exploits of Danshichi, always depicted in plays with a dramatically tattooed body.Here, we only see his arms exposed. Little is known for sure about the artist Kunimasu, except that he seems to have been born into wealth, and he had the chance to study print design under Utagawa Kunisada in Edo, then returned to Osaka to sponsor ukiyo-e print production.
- Artist
- Utagawa Kunimasu 歌川国升
- Date
- 1850
- Medium
- Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper; vertical chūban
- Culture
- Japan
- Department
- Asian Art
- Credit line
- Purchase, Friends of Asian Art Gifts, in honor of James C. Y. Watt, 2011
