The Onnagata Actor Segawa Kikunojö I as Keisei Kuzunoha in the Play Öuchi Kagami Shinoda-zuma

Catalog note / 解説

Like the other members of the Torii School, Kiyonobu II focused on advertisements and other images for Kabuki theaters. The glossy black coloring on the robe, hair, and crests utilizes a technique known as urushi-e, or "lacquer painting." This effect was achieved by mixing animal-based glue with black ink, causing the final product to have a lustrous shine resembling lacquer. As was common in conjunction with the urushi-e style, mica or bronze powder was sprinkled on certain sections of the print (here seen on the robe) to create a dramatic juxtaposition with the deep black and add a luxurious quality to the work. Once again we find the fox spirit Kuzunoha soon after her transformation, a r…