Poster Ukiyo-E, Japanese Woodblockprint Kiyomasu

Ukiyo-E, Japanese Woodblockprint „Actor Ichikawa Danjūrō“ “Actor Ichikawa Danjūrō I as Soga no Gorō” This vibrant hand-colored woodblock print on paper from circa 1697, titled “Actor Ichikawa Danjūrō I as Soga no Gorō”, is by the Japanese artist, Torii Kiyomasu I. Kiyomasu I was a Ukiyo-e artist from the Torii school of the Edo period. This piece remains one of the most famous works from this school of art. This piece is an actor print of Ichikawa Danjūrō I in the role of Soga no Gorō. Ichikawa Danjūrō I was a kabuki actor from Japan who lived from 1660 to 1704. He remains of the most well-known and influential actors of that genre.  Along with Soga Jūrō, Soga Gorō is one of two main brothers from the Japanese epic tale, Soga Monogatari. It’s a classic vendetta story. As infants, the father of Soga Gorō and Soga Jūrō is killed by Kudō Suketsune, a local shōgun, over land rights. The brothers grow up and become skilled fighters to allow them vengeance and the ability to retrieve their father’s sword from Kudō Suketsune. During the final fight, both Soga Jūrō and Kudō Suketsune are killed. After finally achieving their desired revenge, Soga Gorō is captured and executed for the death of the shōgun.