Ichikawa Danjuro V as a Chivalrous Commoner (Gonin Otoko) from the Play “Hatsumonbi kuruwa Soga”

Description

Ichikawa Danjūrō V appears among five performers, each carrying a distinct pose within a repeated arrangement of robes and swords. Ichikawa Danjūrō V appears at the far left in Katsukawa Shunshō’s scene from Hatsumonbi kuruwa Soga. The open background gives the figures a clear silhouette, while the folds and patterned emblems make their garments a unifying feature of the design.

Dated to the second month of 1780, the print presents chivalrous commoners through emphatic theatrical poses. Costume motifs identify both the roles and the actors, giving the group more than a decorative resemblance. Shunshō allows the repeated standing figures to establish a measured rhythm, then varies it through hands, faces and shifts of weight. The image’s energy lies in that combination of collective confidence and individual performance.

Read our guide to giclée prints or browse the Katsukawa Shunshō collection.