Ichikawa Danjūrō IX as Kezori Kuemon

Curatorial Overview

“This image from the play Love at Sea shows the pirate Kezori Kuemon standing on the prow of his ship and staring at the sea at a critical moment in the drama. The huge, glowing moon creates a halo effect as it illuminates the actor and his elaborate Chinese-style costume. This print does not depict a scene from nature but, instead, the illusion of a dark, clear night as it might appear on the Kabuki stage.”