{"product_id":"meiji-1880s-kabuki-warrior-diptych-featuring-ichikawa-danjuro-ix-by-toyohara-kunichika-approximately-37x50cm","title":"Meiji 1880s  Kabuki Warrior Diptych Featuring Ichikawa Danjūrō IX by  Toyohara Kunichika (Approximately 37X50CM)","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"148\" data-end=\"391\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eVery good antique condition. The printed lines remain sharp, and the colors are vivid and well-preserved. Minor signs of age are present, but the diptych displays beautifully and remains an excellent example of Meiji-period woodblock printing.\u003cspan aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"393\" data-end=\"698\"\u003eThis original Meiji-period ōban diptych was designed during the 1880s by \u003cspan class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003eToyohara Kunichika\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, the foremost designer of Kabuki actor prints during the Meiji era. The composition depicts four of Japan's greatest Kabuki performers portraying armored samurai in a dramatic battlefield scene.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"700\" data-end=\"1148\"\u003eThe left sheet features \u003cspan class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003eIchikawa Danjūrō IX\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e in magnificent armor preparing for combat, while the right sheet portrays \u003cspan class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003eIchikawa Kuzō III\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, \u003cspan class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003eIchikawa Shinzō I\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, and \u003cspan class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003eIchikawa Sadanji I\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e locked in a tense confrontation. Towering pine trees, crashing waves, and Kunichika's signature vivid red background intensify the theatrical atmosphere and dramatic energy of the performance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1150\" data-end=\"1506\"\u003eKunichika became famous for documenting Tokyo's leading Kabuki productions through expressive actor portraits that captured both the personalities of the performers and the spectacle of the stage. This print commemorates a contemporary production featuring four of the era's most celebrated actors, each identified by name in the original actor cartouches.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1508\" data-end=\"1909\"\u003eThe elaborate armor, fierce facial expressions, and commanding poses reflect the \u003cem data-start=\"1589\" data-end=\"1598\"\u003earagoto\u003c\/em\u003e (\"rough style\") tradition of heroic Kabuki, a performance style known for its bold movements, exaggerated makeup, and larger-than-life warrior characters. Designed as a large-format diptych, the composition allows the actors' interactions and stage presence to dominate the scene with remarkable visual impact.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1911\" data-end=\"2037\"\u003eA striking original Meiji Kabuki diptych by Kunichika, celebrating the artistry of Japan's greatest nineteenth-century actors.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Echoes of Edo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49269337063683,"sku":null,"price":15000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0811\/5965\/1587\/files\/m81613255196_18.jpg?v=1784082983","url":"https:\/\/echoesofedo.com\/products\/meiji-1880s-kabuki-warrior-diptych-featuring-ichikawa-danjuro-ix-by-toyohara-kunichika-approximately-37x50cm","provider":"Echoes of Edo","version":"1.0","type":"link"}