Memorial Portrait of the Actor Ichikawa Danjuro VIII 1854

This woodblock print memorializes the actor Ichikawa Danjuro VIII, who committed suicide in 1854 in Osaka. The print was made shortly after. It offers a glimpse into the cultural and institutional significance of Kabuki theatre in 19th-century Japan. Note how the actor is depicted in a rectangular frame, almost like a framed portrait displayed at a memorial service. Below, we see mourners overcome with grief. The text emerging from their mouths are not words but swirling lines, perhaps indicating the inarticulacy of sorrow, or perhaps coded gossip. The Kabuki theatre was a major cultural institution, subject to various social and political pressures. Actors like Danjuro were celebrities, and their lives were subject to intense public scrutiny. Understanding this print requires delving into the social history of Kabuki, the economics of the print market, and the complex relationship between art, celebrity, and public mourning. These kinds of prints were ephemeral, made for the moment. It's remarkable that some of them survive, allowing us to reconstruct a vivid picture of Japanese society.