Accession Number
1969/2.144

Title
Backstage Celebrations of a Full-house Hit at the Nakamura Theater

Artist(s)
Utagawa Kunisada

Artist Nationality
Japanese (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
1805 - 1815

Medium & Support
woodblock print on paper

Dimensions
14 7/16 in x 9 7/8 in (36.7 cm x 25.1 cm)

Credit Line
Museum purchase for the Paul Leroy Grigaut Memorial Collection

Subject matter
This image depicts the backstage area of Nakamura-za Theater following a successful performance.  The Nakamura-za Theater was one of three kabuki theaters in Edo (Tokyo) and home to many famous kabuki actors.  According to early accounts, it opened in 1624.  After several turbulent decades, it finally closed in 1893.

Physical Description
In this image, several men and a woman sit on the floor, eating in a relaxed and animated manner.  Behind them, at the top left, two older men sit on a raised platform, engaged in something serious.  Clothes can be seen folded in containers and the back of the print.  Another room is visible at the bottom right.

This is the center panel of a tryptich (with 1969/2.143 and 1969/2.145)

Inscriptions: Nishimuraya Yohachi (Publisher'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)
backstages
theaters (institutions)