Accession Number
1987/1.369

Title
Twelve Months of Actors in Thirty-six Stages (Scenes): Second Month, Plum Blossoms in the Snow, Bandō Mitsugorō III, Iwai Hanshirō V, Sawamura Tanosuke II, and Tea Maid

Artist(s)
Utagawa Toyokuni I

Artist Nationality
Japanese (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
1805

Medium & Support
woodblock print on paper

Dimensions
14 15/16 in x 10 1/8 in (38 cm x 25.7 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. J.E. Val-Mejias, M.D.

Subject matter
Iwai Hanshirō Valso held the names Iwai Kumesaburō I and Iwai Tojaku I.  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.

Very little is known about actor Sawamura Tanosuke II.  He was born in 1788 and held the name Tanosuke from 1801 until his death in 1817.

Actor Matsumoto Kōshirō V was born in 1768.  He was known for his roles as tachiyaku (lead protagonist) and jitsuaku (villain).  He held the name Kōshirō from 1801 until his death in 1838.

Physical Description
This print shows a man and a woman seated on a bench, casually holding pipes and looking off into the distance.  A woman behind them carries a plate and cup, while another woman stands off to the side.  A bamboo fence separates the people from the trees behind them.
 
Inscriptions: Kyū (Publisher's seal); Toyokuni (Artist's signature); Kiwame (Censor's seal)

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 (performing artists)
gardens
seated
spring (season)
teas (meals)
ukiyo e