勝川春好画 七代目片岡仁左衛門 五代目市川團十郎|Kabuki Actor Ichikawa Danjūrō V
1789
ink
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
1789
ink
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
This print shows a kabuki actor in a black-and-white striped robe, standing on a stage. His right hand holds a fan, and his left rests on his hip. The background has bamboo and a simple fence. The actor’s face is painted in bold colors—white, red, and black—with a stern expression. Notice how the lines in his robe and the bamboo leaves are drawn with sharp, precise strokes. This style was meant to highlight the actor’s role and personality. Want to know more? Check out cross-hatching next.
