Accession Number
2011/2.192.1

Title
Iris-colored Hatsuneya: Bandō Hikosaburō as Otowaya Shinsui

Artist(s)
Utagawa Kunisada

Artist Nationality
Japanese (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
1861

Medium & Support
woodblock print on paper

Dimensions
14 3/4 in x 30 in (37.47 cm x 76.2 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Sharlynn and Andrew Circo, in memory of Sotokichi Katsuizumi

Subject matter
The actor in this scene, Bandō Hikosaburō V, was born in 1832 and was active from 1842 until his death in 1877.

This play was only staged once, in the fourth month of 1861.  Hatsuneya was the name of a famous palanquin store in Edo (Tokyo).  The names for each of the characters are made up of the yagō (stage name) and haimyō (poet’s pen name) for each of the actors.  The lanterns across the three panels of the tryptich together read, Soga Ryosha, which refers to an earlier play, Soga ryosha gosairei (曽我両社御祭礼), on which this play seems to be based.

Physical Description
The warrior in this print looks over his left shoulder while reaching up his right sleeve. His elaborate robe is disheveled. It is hiked up at the waist and pushed off his right shoulder. A sword is visible at his side. The dock he stands on is crowded with poles, gates, and a bell. Above him, a red paper lantern hangs with the symbol “yashiro”.

This is the left panel of a triptych.

Publisher's seal: Hanmoto, Izutsuya; Tori [Rooster] 4 aratame (Censor's seals); Otowaya Shinsui

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
human figures (visual works)
lanterns (lighting devices)
palanquins
theater (discipline)
warriors