Ichikawa Ebizô IX as Sukeroku, from the series Flowers of the Modern Stage
Ōta Masamitsu, Ichikawa Ebizô IX as Sukeroku, from the series Flowers of the Modern Stage, 1954, color woodblock print on paper, Gift of Mrs. Fay Kramer, © unknown, research required, 91.48.1A
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- Title
Ichikawa Ebizô IX as Sukeroku, from the series Flowers of the Modern Stage
- Related Titles
display title: Ichikawa Ebizô IX as Sukeroku
original language: 現代舞台藝花(1) 助六 九代目市川海老蔵丈
series title: Gendai butai geika (Flowers of the Modern Stage)
- Artist
- Related People
- Date
1954
- Period
Japan: Shōwa period (1926-1989)
- Medium
color woodblock print on paper
- Dimensions (H x W x D)
image: 14 7/8 in x 10 1/16 in; sheet: 16 15/16 in x 10 3/4 in
- Inscriptions & Markings
signature:
title: 現代舞台藝花(1) 助六 九代目市川海老蔵丈, printed in black, bottom margin at left Transliteration (Translation): Gendai butai geika (1) Sukeroku Kyûdaime Ichikaw Ebizô (Flowers of the Modern Stage: Ichikawa Ebizô IX as Sukeroku) Language: Japanese
- Collection Area
Asian Art; Graphic Arts
- Category
Prints
Japanese Modern Prints
- Object Type
relief print
- Culture
Japanese
- Credit Line
Gift of Mrs. Fay Kramer
- Accession Number
91.48.1A
- Copyright
© unknown, research required
- Terms
The actor known to posterity as Ichikawa Danjûrô XI (1909-1965) held the stage name of Ebizô IX from May of 1940 through April of 1962. A strikingly handsome man, he specialized in male lead roles. Sukeroku, a perennially popular character in kabuki theater, is one of the "Great Eighteen Plays" associated with the Ichikawa line of actors. The protagonist, Sukeroku, appears to be a low-life ruffian (who has nevertheless won the heart of the courtesan Agemaki), but in fact he is a samurai warrior in disguise. His heirloom sword has been stolen, so he provokes fights with one and all who visit the brothel district, in hopes of recovering the weapon. Sukeroku's costume invariably includes a purple headband, which the artist has prominently featured in this image.
