Accession Number
2003/1.439

Title
Tribute Fans of the Energetic Genji: Iwai Tojaku (Iwai Hanshirō V) as the Tea Shop Proprietress Mizuchaya Oben

Artist(s)
Utagawa Kunisada

Artist Nationality
Japanese (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
1836

Medium & Support
woodblock print on paper

Dimensions
14 9/16 in x 10 1/16 in (37 cm x 25.5 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Dr. James Hayes

Subject matter
Actor Iwai Tojaku I also held the names Iwai Kumesaburō I and Iwai Hanshirō V. He was born in 1776 and active from 1786 until shortly before his death in 1847. He was best known for his roles in contemporary plays and for his young onnagata (“female role” or “female form”) roles. He was also the father of the next two actors to hold the Hanshirō name.

Physical Description
In this print, a woman hikes up her robes while carrying a box in one hand and a rolled up mat under her arm.  She looks back over her shoulder.  A cloth hanging in the background behind her fades from red into blue, and its bottom rests on a red floor.  The cloth is decorated with white Chinese characters on the left and a geometric shape on the right.  There is black calligraphy above the woman's left shoulder.

Inscription: Mizuchaya oden Iwai Tojaku (Title); Yamaguchi Tōbei (Publisher's seal); Kiwame (Censor's seal); Kunisada ga (Artist's signature)

Primary Object Classification
Print

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form. Keywords
actors
actors (performing artists)
curtains (window hangings)
kabuki
kimonos
tea rooms
theater (discipline)
women-owned business enterprises