Accession Number
2003/1.493.1

Title
Sound of the Bit and the Colors of the Bridle: Ichimura Uzaemon XIII as Wakato Ippei and Nakamura Shikan IV as Inada Kōzō

Artist(s)
Utagawa Kunisada

Artist Nationality
Japanese (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
1861

Medium & Support
woodblock print on paper

Dimensions
14 1/16 in x 9 13/16 in (35.7 cm x 24.9 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Dr. James Hayes

Subject matter
Actor Nakamura Shikan IV was born into the Nakamura family of kabuki actors in Edo (present-day Tokyo) in 1810. He was active from the time he was a child in 1813 until his death in 1847. He was known for his roles as both tachiyaku (lead protagonist) and young onnagata (“female form” or “female role”).

Actor Ichimura Uzaemon XIII also held the name Onoe Kikugorō V. He was born to a family of kabuki actors in Edo in 1844. He was active from the time he was a child, in 1848, until shortly before his death in 1903. He was known for his roles in contemporary plays and was the head of the Nakamura-za in 1869.
 

Physical Description
Two men look ahead of them with swords drawn.  The man in the front has his head shaved down the middle and wears a blue and red robe with the sleeves tied back.  The man in the back wears a black robe with his head covered.  A tree stands out in front of the night sky.
 
This is the left panel of a diptych.
 
Inscription: Inada Kōzo (Title); Nakamura Shikan; Wakoto Ippei, Ichimura Uzaemon; Toyokuni ga (Artist's signature); Jūichi (Publisher's seal); Tori 5, aratame (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
Pinus (genus)
actors
battles
kabuki
kimonos
men (male humans)
swords
theater (discipline)