1849
Mimasu Daigorō IV in the Role of Bishamonten
Konishi Hirosada (also called Gosōtei Hirosada)Japanese, active 1826-1863, died c. 1865
Actors of the Kabuki theater not only wore decorative costumes, but also painted their faces with bright patterns to help viewers identify them as individual characters. The face of the fierce warrior Bishamonten is colored with a pattern of red lines, associated with qualities of anger, indignation, or rage mixed with cruelty.
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