Arashi Rikan [I or II] as Osome
Ashiyuki
Description
Subject Matter:
This print depicts the Osaka-based actor Arashi Rikan (1788–1837) in the role of the female character Osome, the lead in the popular kabuki play Some Moyō Imose no Kadomatsu, which centered on the illicit love affair between the daughter of a wealthy merchant and his
apprentice, Hisamatsu. In this scene, the actor bends his body forward while turning his head to look back. His contorted pose, accentuated by the heavy folds of his richly brocaded robes, alludes to a pivotal moment in the play, when Osome leaves her parents’ home to run
away with Hisamatsu.
Usage Rights:
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