Actors Ichikawa Shōchō II as Umegawa and Kataoka Gadō XII as Chūbei
- Date:
- 1927
- Medium:
- Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
- Format:
- Oban
- Dimensions:
- 38.6 × 25.6 cm
- Publisher:
- Watanabe Shozaburo
- Edition:
- Published by Watanabe Shozaburo
- Source:
- Minneapolis Institute of Art
Description
This 1927 print presents two actors in their paired roles from Meido no Hikyaku (The Courier from the Underworld): Ichikawa Shocho II as Umegawa, the courtesan whose love for Chubei sets the tragedy in motion, and Kataoka Gado XII as Chubei himself. Shunsen's composition places the two figures in dialogue, their contrasting costumes — her elaborate courtesan dress against his simpler merchant attire — telling the story of their different social worlds even before the drama begins. The rendering of Shocho's onnagata artistry is particularly fine, the femininity constructed through precise control of posture and gaze.
More Prints by Natori Shunsen
The Actor Sawada Shojiro as the Swordsman Hayashi Buhei, from the series “Collection of Portraits by Shunsen (Shunsen nigao shu)"
The Actor Ichimura Uzaemon XV as Naozamurai, from the series “Collection of Portraits by Shunsen (Shunsen nigao shu)"
The Actor Onoe Baiko VI as Sayuri, from the series “Collection of Portraits by Shunsen (Shunsen nigao shu)"
Untitled
Woodblock print
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Featured in Collections
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Frequently Asked Questions
Actors Ichikawa Shōchō II as Umegawa and Kataoka Gadō XII as Chūbei was created by Natori Shunsen (名取春仙) in 1927.
Actors Ichikawa Shōchō II as Umegawa and Kataoka Gadō XII as Chūbei was published by Watanabe Shozaburo (1927).
Actors Ichikawa Shōchō II as Umegawa and Kataoka Gadō XII as Chūbei depicts kabuki.
Actors Ichikawa Shōchō II as Umegawa and Kataoka Gadō XII as Chūbei measures 38.6 × 25.6 cm (Oban format).