Accession Number
2011/2.61

Title
Mirror of Men and Irises: Kataoka Gadō II as Issun Tokubei and Morita Kanya XI as Tsuribune Sabu

Artist(s)
Utagawa Kunisada

Artist Nationality
Japanese (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
1855

Medium & Support
woodblock print on paper

Dimensions
13 9/16 in x 9 7/16 in (34.45 cm x 23.97 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Andrew Rosenblum

Subject matter
Mirror of Men and Irises: Kataoka Gadō II as Issun Tokubei and Morita Kanya XI as Tsuribune Sabu

Actor Kataoka Gadō II, also known as Kataoka Nizaemon IX, was born in 1839 and active from 1849 until his death in 1872.  He was known for his roles in jidaimono (period plays) as well as sewamono (contemporary plays).  He played both tachiyaku (lead protagonist) and onnagata (“female form” or “female role”) roles.

Bandō Mitsugorō IV was also known as Morita Kanya. He was born in 1802 and active from childhood until his death in 1863.

Physical Description
A man grabs the arm of another inside of a building.  The man on the right is neadly dressed in a black plaid robe.  He holds an open fan in his left hand.  The other man’s short black robe is half fallen off and reveals blue tattoos across his shoulders.  Both men wear swords.  

Inscriptions: Tsuribune Sabu; Issun Tokubei; Artist's signature: Toyokuni ga; Publisher's seal: Ryōgoku, Kamaki; Censor's seals: aratame, u 5
 

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
folding fans
interior spaces (spaces by location)
men (male humans)
swords
theater (discipline)