Collection of Shunsen Portraits: Ichikawa Schocho II as Umegawa and Kataoka Gado IV as Chubei (Shunsen Nigao-e Shu: Ichikawa Shocho II, Kataoka Gado IV)
- Medium:
- Woodblock print
- Format:
- Oban
- Publisher:
- Watanabe Shozaburo
- Edition:
- Published by Watanabe Shozaburo
- Source:
- Scholten Japanese Art
Description
Part of Shunsen's celebrated Nigao-e Shu (Collection of Portraits), this double portrait captures two actors in their respective roles from the play Meido no Hikyaku: Ichikawa Shocho II as the faithful courier's wife Umegawa, and Kataoka Gado IV as her lover Chubei. Shunsen presents both figures with equal psychological depth, their contrasting costumes and expressions articulating the doomed love story's emotional stakes. The composition's pairing of onnagata and male actor within a single frame was an unusual solution in yakusha-e, showing Shunsen's willingness to innovate within the tradition.
More Prints by Natori Shunsen
Actors Ichikawa Shōchō II as Umegawa and Kataoka Gadō XII as Chūbei
1927
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
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)"
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View of Kabuki Theater from Matsuya (Ginza Matsuya yori Kabukiza), no. 3 from the series "Pictures of Ginza, First Series (Gashu Ginza dai isshu)"
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Distant View of Mitsukoshi Movie Theater in Shinjuku from the Sixth Floor of Hoteiya (Hoteiya rokkai kara Shinjuku Mitsukoshi Musashi no kan enbo zu), no. 1 from the series "Scenery of Shinjuku (Gashu Shinjuku fukei)"
1930
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Featured in Collections
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Frequently Asked Questions
Collection of Shunsen Portraits: Ichikawa Schocho II as Umegawa and Kataoka Gado IV as Chubei (Shunsen Nigao-e Shu: Ichikawa Shocho II, Kataoka Gado IV) was created by Natori Shunsen (名取春仙).
Yes — Collection of Shunsen Portraits: Ichikawa Schocho II as Umegawa and Kataoka Gado IV as Chubei (Shunsen Nigao-e Shu: Ichikawa Shocho II, Kataoka Gado IV) is part of the Creative Prints: Collection of Portraits of Actors series by Natori Shunsen.
Collection of Shunsen Portraits: Ichikawa Schocho II as Umegawa and Kataoka Gado IV as Chubei (Shunsen Nigao-e Shu: Ichikawa Shocho II, Kataoka Gado IV) was published by Watanabe Shozaburo.
Collection of Shunsen Portraits: Ichikawa Schocho II as Umegawa and Kataoka Gado IV as Chubei (Shunsen Nigao-e Shu: Ichikawa Shocho II, Kataoka Gado IV) depicts kabuki.