Accession Number
2003/1.420.2

Title
Ichimura Uzaemon [XII] as Kamiya Yokichi (right half of a diptych with 2003/1.420.1)

Artist(s)
Utagawa Kunisada

Artist Nationality
Japanese (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
1821-1844

Medium & Support
woodblock print on paper

Dimensions
14 15/16 in. x 10 5/16 in. ( 38 cm x 26.2 cm )

Credit Line
Gift of Dr. James Hayes

Subject matter
Actor Ichimura Uzaemon XII was also known as Ichimura Takenojō V. He was born in 1812 and active from 1818 until his death in 1851.

This play is one of the many variations of the story of the Soga brothers, one of the most popular revenge stories of the Edo period.  The story is based on a late Kamakura period (1185-1333) book, Soga monogatari that tells the tale of two brothers, Jūrō and Gorō, who take revenge for their father on Kudō Suketsune in 1193.  The brothers were executed, and it is thought that the story may have been written to pacify their spirits.
 

Physical Description
The man in the center of this print sits on a red bench with his left leg drawn up. He wears brown robes and blue (faded) pants.  In his right hand he holds a wrapped gift.  Above him hangs a paper lantern with writing on it.  Behind him is a fence and flowering tree against a blue sky.
 
Inscriptions: Artist Signature: Kunisada ga; Publisher’s seal: Kyū; Censor’s seal: kiwame; [undeciphered]ya Yokichi; Ichimura Uzaemon
 
This is the center panel of a triptych (the left panel, 2003/1.420.1).

Primary Object Classification
Print

Primary Object Type
color 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
benches (furniture)
kabuki
men (male humans)
theater (discipline)