Ukiyo-e: "Goro Uprooting a Bamboo"

Kiyomasu Torii - "Goro Uprooting a Bamboo" (1697)

Some light research reveals that this woodblock print is a depiction of kabuki actor Ichikawa Danjuro, playing the character of Goro. This "Goro" is seen to be straining considerably as they pull from the ground a stalk of bamboo. The muscles in their legs and arms bulge as they yank on the stalk, digging their heels into the ground in the process. They appear to have thrown off the top half of their clothes to complete the task, while their long black hair is allowed to flow freely over their shoulders. The main colors shown are a simple combination of black, stark red against a muted yellow, and some warm grey shading in some places. Additionally, the entire image differs from those we viewed and discussed in class in that the style is far more exaggerated and bold as opposed to realistic depiction of daily life or people. This art seems to be more for entertainment than for the narcissism of a noble, as it is a depiction of an actor performing rather than a few normal people sitting down for a drink or going about their daily business. While it can be considered a part of real life, the exaggeration of the depicted actor to truly become a demonic looking ogre with large bulging muscles really shows how artistic the work is--this is not real life, but a taste of fantasy that is born from theater.