Actor KICHIEMON in the role of TOJURO
- Medium:
- Woodblock print
- Format:
- Oban
- Publisher:
- Watanabe Shozaburo
- Source:
- wbp
Description
This woodblock print features the celebrated actor Nakamura Kichiemon I performing the role of Tojuro, likely referencing the legendary Edo-period actor Sakata Tojuro whose name became synonymous with romantic lead roles in kabuki. Toyonari presents Kichiemon with an idealized bearing suited to the wagoto (soft-style) tradition associated with Tojuro roles. The oban composition isolates the figure with minimal background detail, a format Toyonari favored for directing attention to facial expression and costume. Kichiemon I was arguably the most important kabuki actor of the Taisho and early Showa periods, and Toyonari returned to him as a subject repeatedly. This print joins a body of work that collectively maps Kichiemon's range across the classical repertoire.
More Prints by Yamamura Toyonari
Actor Ichikawa Danshirō II as Henmi Tesshinsai
1919
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Actor Matsumoto Kōshirō VII as Sukeroku
1920
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After Yamamura, Toyonari
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Dancing at the New Carlton Café in Shanghai
1924
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Featured in Collections
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Frequently Asked Questions
Actor KICHIEMON in the role of TOJURO was created by Yamamura Toyonari (山村豊成).
Actor KICHIEMON in the role of TOJURO was published by Watanabe Shozaburo.
Actor KICHIEMON in the role of TOJURO depicts kabuki.