The Flowers of Words and Fall Leaves at Peak Color: Bandō Shūka I as Wife Shirayu

Accession Number
2003/1.494.2

Title
The Flowers of Words and Fall Leaves at Peak Color: Bandō Shūka I as Wife Shirayu

Artist(s)
Utagawa Kunisada

Artist Nationality
Japanese (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
1849-1850

Medium & Support
woodblock print on paper

Dimensions
14 7/16 in x 10 in (36.6 cm x 25.4 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”.

Physical Description
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.

This is the center portion of a triptych.

Inscriptions: Okugata Shirayu; Tsutaya, Kichizō (Publisher's seal); Mera/Murata (Censor's seal); Toyokuni ga (Signature)

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
graveyards
kabuki
kimonos
lanterns (lighting devices)
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