Title : Kataoka Ichizö as Benkei

Artist : Natori Shunsen

Date : 1927

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Source : Honolulu Museum of Art
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Description : The costumes, hair and accessories of Shunsen’s actors are often cropped or not visible, which always lends a certain power and movement to his work, as seen in this print. Here, the actor’s pants are cropped off on the side, which demonstrates the role’s roughness as well as captures the most climactic moment of the play. This print depicts the sensational moment when the protagonist Benkei discovers that he has accidentally killed his own daughter. The bold facial make-up is called kumadori. It is applied in order to express a character’s personality. Red usually implies bravery, virtue, and strength. Blue indicates evil. (from Natori Shunsen exhibition 8/7/2006-)

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