Description
Bandō Mitsugorō I stands in long ochre-brown robes above pale legwear, holding a hand near his face. The sparse ground keeps attention on the actor’s elongated presence and the small gesture within the larger costume. Katsukawa Shunshō makes an unarmed character particular through the performer’s appearance, allowing the figure to carry the encounter without an elaborate surrounding scene.
Katsukawa Shunshō’s color woodblock print is dated to 1774 or 1775. Ink and color on paper preserve a stage subject in a form that encourages close consideration outside the theater. Its interest lies in the relationship between the named actor and the character, allowing a restrained description of the role to open onto the broader human possibilities of portrayal.
Read our guide to giclée prints or browse the Katsukawa Shunshō collection.
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