Actor Nakamura Kichiemon II as the Footman Unpei
- Date:
- March 1991
- Medium:
- Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
- Dimensions:
- 38.9 × 25.1 cm
- Source:
- Minneapolis Institute of Art
Description
Nakamura Kichiemon II appears as the footman Unpei in this March 1991 woodblock print rendered in ink and color on paper. Unpei is a retainer role — the loyal servant whose devotion propels the plot — and Kichiemon II, one of the postwar era's most celebrated kabuki actors, brought intellectual depth and physical gravitas to such supporting characters. Kokei frames the actor in a way that elevates the footman's status: the careful attention to the costume's modest fabrics, the dignified bearing despite the character's low rank, and the expression that reveals an inner resolve exceeding what the role's station might suggest.
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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 Nakamura Kichiemon II as the Footman Unpei was created by Tsuruya Kokei (弦屋光溪) in March 1991.
Actor Nakamura Kichiemon II as the Footman Unpei depicts kabuki.
Actor Nakamura Kichiemon II as the Footman Unpei measures 38.9 × 25.1 cm.