Actor Ichikawa Danshirō IV as the Ferryman Tonbei
- Date:
- January 1988
- Medium:
- Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
- Dimensions:
- 39.2 × 24 cm
- Source:
- Minneapolis Institute of Art
Description
This January 1988 print portrays Ichikawa Danshiro IV as Tonbei, the ferryman from a kabuki drama in which a seemingly humble boatman conceals a more complex identity. The ferryman role is one of kabuki's great character studies: outwardly simple and weathered by river life, Tonbei harbors secrets that emerge through subtle shifts in posture and expression. Kokei's ink and color woodblock rendering pays close attention to Danshiro IV's interpretation — the roughened hands gripping the oar, the weather-beaten face, the costume of a working river man that nonetheless carries an undercurrent of suppressed tension.
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Ichikawa Danshiro IV as Akushichibyoe Kagekiyo
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Featured in Collections
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Frequently Asked Questions
Actor Ichikawa Danshirō IV as the Ferryman Tonbei was created by Tsuruya Kokei (弦屋光溪) in January 1988.
Actor Ichikawa Danshirō IV as the Ferryman Tonbei depicts kabuki.
Actor Ichikawa Danshirō IV as the Ferryman Tonbei measures 39.2 × 24 cm.