Accession Number
1985/1.174

Title
Lineup of Five Great Kabuki Actors: Kawarazaki Gonjūrō I as Gon of the Treasure Knot

Artist(s)
Toyohara Kunichika

Artist Nationality
Japanese (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
1867

Medium & Support
woodblock print on paper

Dimensions
13 7/8 in x 9 3/16 in (35.24 cm x 23.37 cm);22 1/8 in x 18 1/8 in (56.2 cm x 46 cm);13 15/16 in x 9 5/8 in (35.4 cm x 24.5 cm);13 7/8 in x 9 1/2 in (35.2 cm x 24.1 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Pearl Sellards

Subject matter
Kawarazaki Gonjūrō I (Ichikawa Danjūrō IX) was born in Edo in 1838 and active in kabuki from 1843 until his death in 1903. His father was Ichikawa Danjūrō VII.  He was known for his roles in jidaimono (period plays) as well as sewamono (contemporary plays). He played tachiyaku (lead protagonist), jitsuaku (villain), and onnagata (“female form” or “female role”) roles and was famous in Japan and internationally.

 

Physical Description
This is a portrait of a man looking off to the side.  He wears a bright blue robe with white decorations.  He holds a cloth behind his neck in one hand.  The background is red plaid.  A sky-blue inset above the man’s head has several lines of calligraphy.

Inscriptions: Takaramusubi no gon; (Calligraphy); Kunichika hitsu (Artist's signature); Ningyōchō, Gusokuya (Publisher's seal); u 6, aratame (Censors' seal)

Primary Object Classification
Print

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form. Keywords
Figures
actors
actors (performing artists)
fans (costume accessories)
human figures (visual works)
men (male humans)
seated
towels