Paul Binnie

Scottish, b. 1967

Watercolor Painting of Actor Enjaku as Otokonosuke

watercolor on paper, signed at upper left in kanji Bin-ni, with red oval artist's seal Bin-ni, and in English, BINNIE, titled on verso, (ENJAKU) Setting the wig for 'Otokonosuke' in "Meriboku Sendai Hagi" Act 4, ca. 1995

15 1/8 by 10 1/2 in., 38.5 by 26.8 cm

The actor Jitsukawa Enjaku III (1921-1991) performed this role in a production of Meiboku Sendai Hagi at the Kabuki-za in October 1995. In the play, Arajishi Otokonosuke was a faithful retainer of the samurai Yorikane standing guard in the floor below Yorikane's son Tsuruchiyo. Tsuruchiyo was the assassination target of the evil magician Nikki Danjo and his co-conspirators. When Otokonosuke spots a rat who has stolen a scroll listing the names of all the conspirators, he hits the beast with his heavy iron fan. The rat is injured but manages to escape and transforms into his true form as Nikko Danjo.

The watercolor shows the actor wearing red kumadori makeup and about to put on the character's wig with the help of his dresser.

Reference: www.kabuki21.com

(inv. no. C-1423)

price: $850