Acteur Ichikawa Danjûrô VII tijdens Nieuwjaar

About this artwork

Legaat van J.A. Bierens de Haan, Amsterdam

Art Historical Context

**Actor Ichikawa Danjûô VII during New Year by Utagawa Hiroige I (1797–1858) is a delightful early example of ukiyo-e, the "pictures of the floating world" that celebrated Japan's vibrant urban life during the Edo period. Created in 1820, this nishikie woodblock captures the renowned kabuki actor Ichikawajûrô VII in a festive New Year pose, evoking the joy of shōgatsu celebrations. At just 194 × 182 mm, its intimate scale invites close viewing, highlighting Hiroshige's emerging talent before he revolutionized landscape prints with series like *The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō*. The medium shines through innovative techniques: metallic pigments lend a luxurious shimmer to mimic festive decorations and costumes, while blindprinting (gauffrage) adds subtle embossed textures for depth and tactility—rarer embellishments in early 19th-century prints that elevated nishikie from affordable ephemera to collector's treasures. These methods reflect the golden age of ukiyo-e publishing in Edo (modern Tokyo), where actor portraits (yakusha-e) idolized stars like Danjûrô VII, blending theater fandom with seasonal rituals. This piece, part of the legacy bequeathed by Amsterdam collector J.A. Bierens de Haan, underscores the global appeal of Japanese prints in Europe. It offers a window into Edo's cultural pulse, where art, performance, and holidays intertwined.