1837
ink
paper
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
四代目中村歌右衛門 「関取千両幟」|The Actor Nakamura Utaemon IV as the Wrestler Iwakawa Jirokichi is a 1837 ink by Shunbaisai Hokuei 春梅斎北英, a Romanticism work, depicting Actor, held at Metropolitan Museum of Art.
This print shows a man in a dramatic, colorful costume—red sash, blue sleeves, and a long sword at his side. His face is painted white with bold black lines, and he holds a fan in one hand. The background is plain, letting the bright patterns of his robes stand out. The actor’s pose looks like he’s ready for action, maybe a scene from a play. The Japanese writing around him adds to the story, but it’s hard to read without help. If you like this style, check out the technique: cross-hatching next.
Hokuei spent his life in Osaka, a busy port city where art and theater mixed like ink in water.
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