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Copyright
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Crossing Swords in the Pleasure Quarters: Nakamura Fukusuke IV (Nakamura Utaemon V) as a Maid

Accession Number
2008/2.10A

Title
Crossing Swords in the Pleasure Quarters: Nakamura Fukusuke IV (Nakamura Utaemon V) as a Maid

Artist(s)
Toyohara Kunichika

Artist Nationality
Japanese (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
1898

Medium & Support
woodblock print on paper

Dimensions
14 in x 9 5/8 in (35.5 cm x 24.4 cm);14 in x 9 5/8 in (35.5 cm x 24.4 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Stuart Katz

Subject matter
Actor Nakamura Fukusuke IV, also known as Nakamura Utaemon V, was born in Edo in 1866 and active in kabuki from 1877 until his death in 1940. He was known for his roles in jidaimono (period plays) and sewamono (contemporary plays). He was best known for his onnagata (“female form” or “female role”) roles and was called the best onnagata in the east and west (i.e. all of Japan).

Physical Description
A woman is hunched over, her right hand on her lower back, and her left hand holding onto the top of a spool. She wears a pale striped robe over a layer of purple floral and red with a black sash around her waist. The bright blue robe of another person off the print is visible at the right edge.

This is the left panel of a triptych (with 2008/2.10B and 2008/2.10C).

Inscriptions: Toyohara Kunichika hitsu (Artist's signature); Meiji 31 nen 10 gatsu 15 nichi insatsu dōgatsu 20 nichi hakko

 

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 (performing artists)
kimonos
lanterns (lighting devices)
maids (servants)
theater (discipline)

1 Related Resource

Kabuki Images
(Part of 10 Learning Collections)

& Author Notes

All Rights Reserved