Items Similar to Jidaibaba, Ena Bunraku
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 5
Hiroshi WatanabeJidaibaba, Ena Bunraku2003
2003
$1,250
£948.77
€1,108.70
CA$1,742.19
A$1,964.04
CHF 1,041
MX$24,213.65
NOK 12,654.66
SEK 12,163.14
DKK 8,269.02
Shipping
Retrieving quote...The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation
About the Item
Those Kabuki players you see in my photographs are not with the mainstream Kabuki companies in Tokyo. They are with localized small groups located in various parts of Japan. They are not professional actors in a sense, as they don’t get paid for their plays. They actually spend quite a lot of their own money to be in the plays. Kabuki is known for lavish make-up, costumes, and stage set-ups. As such, those who want to be in the plays must be committed and prepared. They spend their time and money because of their love for being in the theater—attention they get, pride, prestige, and joy of being part of their tradition. One such company is based in a town called Nakatsugawa. The town is cozily nested at the foot of Japan Alps Mountains. It was situated at the halfway point between Tokyo and Kyoto of the old main road called Nakasendo in Edo era, and because of this strategic location, it flourished as a trading post about three hundred years ago. The town became rich, but had no cultures as they are away from big cities. They had to wait for Kabuki Company to arrive, which comes only once a year. Being tired of waiting, they finally decided to do Kabuki by themselves. They built a theater and hired make-up artists, costumers, and stage craftsmen from Kyoto just for themselves, and they started to play their favorite stories. Thus it became their tradition. I believe good portraits are the ones that show the characters and personality of the subjects--their human beings. I find it a difficult task, as people are so well educated about photographs nowadays. People know how to pose, how to make impressions, and how to look good, and hardly reveal what they really are. Those Kabuki players are also hidden in heavy make-up and wardrobes in a made-up world. But when they sit in front of my camera between plays, they are so much saturated (and worried) in their roles, that they pay very little attention to my existence. They are struck with stage fright and they repeat their lines over and over as I photograph. Remember this is not what they do everyday. On the other hand, they are not afraid of me, or of anyone else, as their faces are shielded by the heavy make-ups. They can be themselves without worrying about other people, as if they were in the masquerade. They feel that no one knows who he or she really is, or at least people know that they were in a fictional world. At those moments, they are much closer to me.
- Creator:Hiroshi Watanabe (1951, Japanese)
- Creation Year:2003
- Dimensions:Height: 10 in (25.4 cm)Width: 10 in (25.4 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Framing:Framing Options Available
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:Sante Fe, NM
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU134210492902
Hiroshi Watanabe
" I go to places that captivate and intrigue me. I am interested in what humans do. I seek to capture people, traditions, and locales that first and foremost are of personal interest. I immerse myself with information on the places prior to leaving, but I try to avoid firm, preconceived ideas. I strive for both calculation and discovery in my work, keeping my mind open for surprises. At times, I envision images I’d like to capture, but when I actually look through the viewfinder, my mind goes blank and I photograph whatever catches my eye. Photographs I return with are usually different from my original concepts. My photographs reflect both genuine interest in my subject as well as a respect for the element of serendipity, while other times I seek pure beauty. The pure enjoyment of this process drives and inspires me. I believe there’s a thread that connects all of my work -- my personal vision of the world as a whole. I make every effort to be a faithful visual recorder of the world around me, a world in flux that, at very least in my mind, deserves preservation." – Hiroshi Watanabe
About the Seller
5.0
Vetted Professional Seller
Every seller passes strict standards for authenticity and reliability
Established in 1993
1stDibs seller since 2015
230 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 1 to 2 days
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: Santa Fe, NM
- Return Policy
Authenticity Guarantee
In the unlikely event there’s an issue with an item’s authenticity, contact us within 1 year for a full refund. DetailsMoney-Back Guarantee
If your item is not as described, is damaged in transit, or does not arrive, contact us within 7 days for a full refund. Details24-Hour Cancellation
You have a 24-hour grace period in which to reconsider your purchase, with no questions asked.Vetted Professional Sellers
Our world-class sellers must adhere to strict standards for service and quality, maintaining the integrity of our listings.Price-Match Guarantee
If you find that a seller listed the same item for a lower price elsewhere, we’ll match it.Trusted Global Delivery
Our best-in-class carrier network provides specialized shipping options worldwide, including custom delivery.More From This Seller
View AllVaranasi, India
By Pentti Sammallahti
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Pentti Sammallahti is a benchmark figure in contemporary Finnish photography. His works depict nature eroded and broken down by civilization, but he does not put man and the environm...
Category
1990s Contemporary Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Alaverdi, Georgia (Groom carrying Bride, spotted dog watching)
By Pentti Sammallahti
Located in Sante Fe, NM
This print is currently featured in our exhibition, Warm Regards, and will be available to ship after the show closes June 24th, 2017.
Pentti Sammallahti is a benchmark figure in co...
Category
2010s Contemporary Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Odessa, Ukraine, 2004
By Pentti Sammallahti
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Pentti Sammallahti is a benchmark figure in contemporary Finnish photography. His works depict nature eroded and broken down by civilization, but he does not put man and the environm...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Odessa, Ukraine, 2004
By Pentti Sammallahti
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Pentti Sammallahti is a benchmark figure in contemporary Finnish photography. His works depict nature eroded and broken down by civilization, but he does not put man and the environm...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Tirana, Albania, 2012
By Pentti Sammallahti
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Pentti Sammallahti is a benchmark figure in contemporary Finnish photography. His works depict nature eroded and broken down by civilization, but he does not put man and the environm...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Dingle, Co. Kerry, Ireland, 1978
By Pentti Sammallahti
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Pentti Sammallahti is a benchmark figure in contemporary Finnish photography. His works depict nature eroded and broken down by civilization, but he does not put man and the environm...
Category
1970s Contemporary Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
You May Also Like
"The Glimmer Twins - Keith Richards" Photography 20x15 in by Charlie Auringer
Located in Culver City, CA
"The Glimmer Twins - Keith Richards" Photography 20x15 in by Charlie Auringer
Year: 1978
Edition of 50
Medium: Silver gelatin limited edition photographic print on paper
Signed and ...
Category
20th Century Contemporary Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
A Moment with Mario by James Sparshatt. BW Photograph of a jazz trumpet player
By James Sparshatt
Located in Coltishall, GB
A photograph of Mario locked in a harmonious embrace with his trumpet… a moment of magic in a jazz club in New Orleans.
James Sparshatt’s photographs of music and dance capture the ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Portrait Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Boy With Fish - Black & White Silver Gelatin Photograph, Signed and Framed
By Art Shay
Located in Chicago, IL
You cannot help but smile when you see the pure joy on this young boy's face as he shows off his "prize" catch to a group of onlookers in Art Shay's photo aptly titled "Boy with Fish...
Category
1960s Contemporary Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
The Supremes Dancing - Detroit, MI, 1965 - Framed, Signed Silver Gelatin Photo
By Art Shay
Located in Chicago, IL
The excitement and innocence is profoundly evident on the faces of Dianna Ross, Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard - AKA The Supremes, in this behind the scenes photograph, dancing to ...
Category
1960s Contemporary Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Audrey Hepburn b/w photograph LIFETIME print silver gelatin
By Terry O'Neill
Located in Norwich, GB
Terry O’Neill CBE is one of the world’s most collected photographers, with work hanging in national art galleries and private collections worldwide. From presidents to pop stars, he ...
Category
Late 20th Century Contemporary Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
Michael Caine filming Get Carter LIFETIME black and white photographic print
By Terry O'Neill
Located in Norwich, GB
Terry O’Neill CBE is one of the world’s most collected photographers, with work hanging in national art galleries and private collections worldwide. From presidents to pop stars, he ...
Category
Late 20th Century Contemporary Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
