Kunisada: Art Within Art

On the left an 1852 actor print (Danjuro VIII as Jiraiya and Bando Shuka I as Princess Tagato).
On the right, a 2022 wall relief piece, After Kunisada, by Esme Thompson, who lives and makes art in Lebanon, NH. Esme recently retired from years as an art studio professor at nearby Dartmouth College.
In the summer of 2022 Daniel Heyman (a former student of Esme's and an art professor at RISDI) bought from the MBFA gallery an impression of the same Kunisada print shown on the left. Seeing Daniel's Kunisada print led Esme to create her piece, displayed on the right.

On the left, The Drawing Class, from 1852.
In the center a triptych from 1830, Eight Views of Edo.

Various beauty prints.

Kunisada prints above the front desk.

A panorama of the exhibit.

On the left an 1852 actor print (Danjuro VIII as Jiraiya and Bando Shuka I as Princess Tagato).
On the right, a 2022 wall relief piece, After Kunisada, by Esme Thompson, who lives and makes art in Lebanon, NH. Esme recently retired from years as an art studio professor at nearby Dartmouth College.
In the summer of 2022 Daniel Heyman (a former student of Esme's and an art professor at RISDI) bought from the MBFA gallery an impression of the same Kunisada print shown on the left. Seeing Daniel's Kunisada print led Esme to create her piece, displayed on the right.

Fujikawa Kayû III as Nikki's Wife Tsuma Karaginu, Nakamura Kamenojô I as her daughter Musume Murahagi. Does this composition not evoke emotions of curiosity, caution and interest?!

This triptych is from a production of Sept., 1851. Danjuro VIII is portrayed in the center panel playing the role of Ashikaga Jirô no kimi.
Visit The New Leaf Gallery to see more of Kunisada: Art within Art online.

Actors Bandô Shûka I as Yoshimasa's Concubine (Besshitsu) Fuji no kata, Ichikawa Kôzô as Karaginu's Little Brother (Otôto) Kimiyoshi.

Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Ashikaga Jirô no kimi. Check out the accentuated perspective heightening the theatrical focus on Danjuro, and the way the composition leads to that dark murky opening behind Danjuro's head.

Fujikawa Kayû III as Nikki's Wife Tsuma Karaginu, Nakamura Kamenojô I as her daughter Musume Murahagi. Does this composition not evoke emotions of curiosity, caution and interest?!