Kabuki Actor Ichimura Uzaemon IX
Torii Kiyomitsu Japanese
Not on view
The actor's pen name, Kakitsu, is written to the right of his shoulder and his role and name to the left. His black and white crest is an orange-like fruit which appears also in the pattern of his robes. The first true color printing was introduced about 1741 and is called benizuri-e. Colors are usually limited to a delicate rose red (beni) and an apple green. Kiyomitsu has added a third gray color block. The pink is a fugitive color and fades to a yellowish tone, but the green is more permanent. It is rare to find a benizuri-e preserved in something near its original state.
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