Ichikawa Danjuro IV in the Role of Kagekiyo in the Play Enlightenment from a Series of Portraits of Danjūrō

Ichikawa Danjuro IV in the Role of Kagekiyo in the Play Enlightenment from a Series of Portraits of Danjūrō

Utagawa Toyokuni II

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This surimono shows a close-up image of Ichikawa Danjūrō IV in the role of Kagekiyo, who attained salvation as a faithful follower of Buddhism, despite his villainous battles. In this swaggering performance, he wears a kimono displaying a triangular pattern of scales, symbolizing a dragon or snake. This surimono of the fourth Danjūrō is from a series of portrait busts of Danjūrō I–VIII. This has a modified frame decorated with a seal script go (five), perhaps a part of another of Danjūrō's names, Gogawa.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Ichikawa Danjuro IV in the Role of Kagekiyo in the Play Enlightenment from a Series of Portraits of DanjūrōIchikawa Danjuro IV in the Role of Kagekiyo in the Play Enlightenment from a Series of Portraits of DanjūrōIchikawa Danjuro IV in the Role of Kagekiyo in the Play Enlightenment from a Series of Portraits of DanjūrōIchikawa Danjuro IV in the Role of Kagekiyo in the Play Enlightenment from a Series of Portraits of DanjūrōIchikawa Danjuro IV in the Role of Kagekiyo in the Play Enlightenment from a Series of Portraits of Danjūrō

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.