Accession Number
2003/1.522

Title
Iwai Shijaku [I] as Gion no Okaji

Artist(s)
Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Artist Nationality
Japanese (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
1822-1844

Medium & Support
woodblock print on paper

Dimensions
14 1/2 in. x 10 1/16 in. ( 36.9 cm x 25.5 cm )

Credit Line
Gift of Dr. James Hayes

Subject matter
Actor Iwai Shijaku I, also known as Iwai Hanshirō VII, was the oldest son of Iwai Hanshirō V.  He was born in 1804 and died in 1845.

Physical Description
In this print, a woman sits on the ground, wielding a sword in front of her.  The ground is white, and white petals or snow are falling from the night sky.  Behind her is a body of water, bridge, and a distant building.
 
Inscriptions: Artist’s signature: Kuniyoshi ga; Publisher’s seal: Ō Jōkin Ikenaka; Censor’s seal: Kiwame; Gion no Okaji, Iwai Shijaku

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
kabuki
night
swords
theater (discipline)