Accession Number
2003/1.483

Title
Gods of Harmonious Union: Bandō Shūka I and Ichikawa Danjūrō VIII

Artist(s)
Utagawa Kunisada

Artist Nationality
Japanese (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
1852

Medium & Support
woodblock print on paper

Dimensions
14 13/16 in x 10 1/8 in (37.6 cm x 25.7 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Dr. James Hayes

Subject matter
Actor Bandō Shūka I also held the name Bandō Mitsugorō V. He was born in 1813 and active from 1824 until shortly before his death in 1854. He was known for both period and contemporary plays and for his portrayal of young onnagata, a word that means “female form” or “female role”.

Ichikawa Danjūrō VIII was born in Edo in 1823 and active from 1827. He was the oldest son of Ichikawa Danjūrō VII and brother of Ichikawa Danjūrō IX. He was known for his roles in jidaimono (period plays) as well as sewamono (contemporary plays). He committed suicide in 1854.
 

Physical Description
A woman looks down at a man. Both are dressed in elaborate, multi-coloured robes with long, loose hair. The woman is standing and holds a container. The man is seated and holds a large flower. The background is white, edged in blue, with calligraphy at the top.

Inscriptions: Uke ni iru wagō no fukujin; (Calligraphy); Toyokuni ga (Artist's signature); Jōkin (Publisher's seal); ne 6, Fuku, Muramatsu (Censors' seals)

 

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)
deities
kabuki
kimonos
lotus (plant, general)
theater (discipline)