Ichikawa Danjūrō VII as Arajishi Otokonosuke

Ichikawa Danjūrō VII as Arajishi Otokonosuke

Utagawa Kunisada

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This image captures the moment of a Kabuki play just before the heroic samurai Arajishi Otokonosuke is about to strike with an iron fan his villainous adversary Nikki Danjō, who has magically transformed himself into a rat. The celebrated actor Ichikawa Danjūrō (1791–1859) is shown in his late thirties, at the peak of his fame, with his long, sharp nose even more distinct than in the previous decade.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Ichikawa Danjūrō VII as Arajishi OtokonosukeIchikawa Danjūrō VII as Arajishi OtokonosukeIchikawa Danjūrō VII as Arajishi OtokonosukeIchikawa Danjūrō VII as Arajishi OtokonosukeIchikawa Danjūrō VII as Arajishi Otokonosuke

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.