Ichikawa Danjūrō VII as Konoshita Tokichi: Kunisada's Kabuki Masterpiece (1819)

Ichikawa Danjūrō VII as Konoshita Tokichi

Utagawa Kunisada (later known as Toyokuni III) | 1819 (Bunsei 2) | Kabuki actor portrait

Utagawa Kunisada captures Ichikawa Danjūrō VII in the role of Konoshita Tokichi. A leading actor of his generation, Danjūrō VII brought the celebrated Ichikawa family's stage tradition to Edo audiences. 🎭

An Actor in Character

The portrait focuses on costume, gesture, and the presence of the performer in character. Kunisada's actor prints made the stars of the kabuki stage recognizable to the people who followed their performances. 🌸

About Kunisada

Kunisada (1786–1865) trained in the Utagawa school and later used the name Toyokuni III. His portraits of actors became an enduring part of Edo-period print culture, recording the fashions and theatrical energy of his day. ⛩️

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