Kabuki Images

A man hunches over as he carries the end of an oar. He is barefoot and wears robes in several bright patterns. A sword is visible at his right hip. One of his legs is raised as if to take a step. The background behind him is water.<br /><br />
This is the center panel of a triptych (with 2011/2.193.1 and 2011/2.193.3).<br /><br />
Inscriptions: Sendō Matsuemon jitsu wa Higuchi no Jirō; Kuniyoshi ga (Artist's signature); To (Publisher's seal); Hama, Magome (Censor's seals)<br />
 
Utagawa Kuniyoshi
Alphabetical Tales of Glory and Decline: Nakamura Utaemon IV as Higuchi no Jirō Disguised as the Boatman Matsuemon
woodblock print on paper
30 3/4 in x 14 1/4 in (78.11 cm x 36.2 cm)
Gift of Sharlynn and Andrew Circo, in memory of Sotokichi Katsuizumi
In this print, a man in an ornate coat and armor looks off to his right.  His hand rests on the pommel of a sword.  The background is gray.  A cartouche above him contains cursive script against a blue, white, and red background, and a label on the upper left gives the name of the print series: <em>kokin yūjinki </em>(Record of Heroes Past and Present).<br /><br />
Publisher's seal: Kawane; Signature: Hirosada<br /><br />
 
Utagawa Hirosada
Record of Heroes Past and Present: Kataoka Gadō II as Washino'o Saburō
woodblock print on paper
14 in x 9 1/4 in (35.56 cm x 23.5 cm)
Gift of Stuart Katz
A woman wearing a multi-layered red robe looks over her shoulder at the legs and arm of a man off the print.  The woman has blue flowers in her hair, and her robe is decorated with orange flowers.  A spotlight illuminates the leaves behind her.<br /><br />
This is the center portion of a triptych.<br /><br />
Inscriptions: Okugata Shirayu; Tsutaya, Kichizō (Publisher's seal); Mera/Murata (Censor's seal); Toyokuni ga (Signature)
Utagawa Kunisada
The Flowers of Words and Fall Leaves at Peak Color: Bandō Shūka I as Wife Shirayu
woodblock print on paper
14 7/16 in x 10 in (36.6 cm x 25.4 cm)
Gift of Dr. James Hayes
A barefoot man stands with one arm raised and the other holding a hoe behind him.  He is wearing plain robes and his head is covered in a blue cloth.  A spotlight illuminates the leaves behind him.<br /><br />
Inscriptions: Tsutaya, Kichizō (Publisher's seal); Mera/Murata (Censor's seal); Toyokuni (Signature); Koshō Hōsaku<br /><br />
This is the left panel of a triptych.
Utagawa Kunisada
The Flowers of Words and Fall Leaves at Peak Color: Nakamura Utaemon IV as Koshō Hōsaku
woodblock print on paper
14 7/16 in x 9 15/16 in (36.6 cm x 25.3 cm)
Gift of Dr. James Hayes
Two men grapple on a set of steps.  The man on the right holds a lantern in one hand and has grabbed onto the man on the left with his other.  The man on the right wears a short yellow robe with large characters written in black.  The man on the ground has a beard.<br /><br />
Inscriptions: Publisher's seal: Tsutaya, Kichizō; Censor's seal: Mera/Murata; Signature: Toyokuni; Asamaru; Dainichibō<br /><br />
This is the right panel of a triptych.
Utagawa Kunisada
The Flowers of Words and Fall Leaves at Peak Color: Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Asamaru and Seki Sanjūrō III as Dainichibō
woodblock print on paper
14 7/16 in x 9 15/16 in (36.6 cm x 25.3 cm)
Gift of Dr. James Hayes
A man holds an umbrella over a woman and child. The woman kneels on the ground, looking anxiously off to her right. She wears a red striped robe with green or blue edging. The man has bare feet and wears a short blue and white striped robe. The sky is dark, and white flakes or rain appear to fall.<br /><br />
Inscriptions: Takashima Beizan; Matsuyama; Kunisato ga (Artist's signature); Bakuro Yon, Kiyahan (Publisher's seal); aratame, mi 3 (Censors' seal)<br />
 
Utagawa Kunisato
The Rat and the Fine Patterned New Spring Fashion: Ichikawa Kodanji IV as Kōzō Disguised as Takashima Beizan, Onoe Kikugorō IV as Courtesan Matsuyama, and an Unidentified Child Actor as Kamuro Midori
woodblock print on paper
14 in x 9 7/16 in (35.5 cm x 24 cm)
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Andrew Rosenblum
In this print, a man pulls his chin downward and looks forward against a plain background.  He wears a lightly patterned white robe underneath black and gold.  The hilt of a sword is visible at his waist.  His hair is pulled up into a tight topknot.<br />
 <br />
Inscriptions: Artist’s signature: Masamitsu; unidentified publisher’s seal; Title: Shōwa butai sugata sono ni, Moritsuna, Kyūdaime, Ichikawa Ebizō
Masamitsu Ota
Actor Ichikawa Ebizo as Moritsuna
woodblock print on paper
16 1/4 in. x 10 7/8 in. ( 41.28 cm x 27.62 cm )
Gift of Stuart Katz
Four men are lined up close together, all holding onto an oar.  Each wears a red skirt, blue leg wraps, and purple and white shirts.  They each have their left legs raised as if to take a step.  Water is in the background behind them.<br /><br />
This is the right panel of a triptych (with 2011/2.193.1 and 2011/2.193.2).<br /><br />
Inscriptions: Sendō Dairoku; Onaji Kanroku; Onaji Sagiroku; Onaji Bunroku; Kuniyoshi ga (Artist's signature); To (Publisher's seal); Hama, Magome (Censor's seals)
Utagawa Kuniyoshi
Alphabetical Tales of Glory and Decline: Actors as the Boatmen Dairoku, Kanroku, Sagiroku, and Bunroku
woodblock print on paper
30 3/4 in x 14 1/4 in (78.11 cm x 36.2 cm)
A woman kneels in front of a man. The woman wears dark red and purple robes. There is a sword at her left hip, and she holds her right hand out toward the man behind her. The man has grey hair and wears short blue and yellow robes. He also has a sword and is barefoot. The background behind them is water.<br /><br />
This is the left panel of a triptych (with 2011/2.193.2 and 2011/2.192.3).<br /><br />
I​nscriptions: Sendō Gonshirō; Ofude; Kuniyoshi ga (Artist's signature); To (Publisher's seal); Hama, Magome (Censor's seals)
Utagawa Kuniyoshi
Alphabetical Tales of Glory and Decline: Seki Sanjurō III as Boatman (Sendō) Gonshirō and Bandō Shūka I as Ofude
woodblock print on paper
30 3/4 in x 14 1/4 in (78.11 cm x 36.2 cm)
A man grabs the arm of another inside of a building.  The man on the right is neadly dressed in a black plaid robe.  He holds an open fan in his left hand.  The other man’s short black robe is half fallen off and reveals blue tattoos across his shoulders.  Both men wear swords.  <br /><br />
Inscriptions: Tsuribune Sabu; Issun Tokubei; Artist's signature: Toyokuni ga; Publisher's seal: Ryōgoku, Kamaki; Censor's seals: aratame, u 5<br />
 
Utagawa Kunisada
Mirror of Men and Irises: Kataoka Gadō II as Issun Tokubei and Morita Kanya XI as Tsuribune Sabu
woodblock print on paper
13 9/16 in x 9 7/16 in (34.45 cm x 23.97 cm)
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Andrew Rosenblum
Kabuki actor Nakamura Shikan IV as Motome wears his hair in a top know with ornament. His eyes look upwards and his thin, red-lipped mouth lies open to reveal his teeth. He wears a blueish purple kimono with floral designs. Cartouches of text lie in the upper to corners and far left.
Toyohara Kunichika
Actor Nakamura Shikan IV as Motome
woodblock print on paper
10 in. x 7 in. ( 25.4 cm x 17.78 cm )
Gift of Stuart Katz
Color woodblock print of a kabuki actor on gray mica ground.  Actor appears to be playing the role of a samurai, with his hair in a top-knot, a family crest on the arm of his kimono, and a sword complete with scabbard ornament.  His head tilts downward seriously as his hand reaches to unsheath his sword.
Ueno Tadamasa
Unidentified Kabuki Actor as Sword-face
ink and gray mica on paper
16 in. x 10 1/2 in. ( 40.64 cm x 26.67 cm )
Gift of Stuart Katz

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April 7, 2020 8:06 p.m.

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