The Flowers of Words and Fall Leaves at Peak Color: Nakamura Utaemon IV as Koshō Hōsaku

Accession Number
2003/1.494.1

Title
The Flowers of Words and Fall Leaves at Peak Color: Nakamura Utaemon IV as Koshō Hōsaku

Artist(s)
Utagawa Kunisada

Artist Nationality
Japanese (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
1849

Medium & Support
woodblock print on paper

Dimensions
14 7/16 in x 9 15/16 in (36.6 cm x 25.3 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Dr. James Hayes

Subject matter
Actor Nakamura Utaemon IV was born in 1796 and active from 1813 until his death in 1852. He was best known for his roles in period plays and good at tachiyaku (lead protagonist), jitsuaku (villain), and onnagata (“female form” or “female role”) roles.

Physical Description
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.

Inscriptions: Tsutaya, Kichizō (Publisher's seal); Mera/Murata (Censor's seal); Toyokuni (Signature); Koshō Hōsaku

This is the left panel of a triptych.

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
farmers (people in agriculture)
graveyards
kabuki
lanterns (lighting devices)
swords
theater (discipline)

4 Related Resources

Death and Dying
(Part of 8 Learning Collections)
Grief and Mourning Rituals
(Part of 5 Learning Collections)
Kabuki Images
(Part of 10 Learning Collections)
Theater and Drama
(Part of 3 Learning Collections)

& Author Notes

Web Use Permitted