Accession Number
1969/2.146

Title
Backstage Celebrations of a Full-house Hit at the Ichimura Theater

Artist(s)
Utagawa Kunisada

Artist Nationality
Japanese (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
1811

Medium & Support
woodblock print on paper

Dimensions
14 1/2 in x 9 13/16 in (36.83 cm x 24.92 cm)

Credit Line
Museum purchase for the Paul Leroy Grigaut Memorial Collection

Subject matter
This print shows the interior of the Ichimura-za theatre, one of three kabuki theatres in Edo (Tokyo) and home to many famous kabuki actors. The theatre opened in 1667. It burned down and was rebuilt several times through the nineteenth and early twentieth century. However, after burning in 1932 it was never rebuilt.

Physical Description
This image shows several men and women busily moving about. At the right, three men are seated on the floor, watching the commotion. A shrine is partly visible behind them. Furniture, clothes piles, and cast-off sandals add to the business of the scene. Small blocks of text identify each of the individuals.

This is the right panel of a triptych (with 1969/2.147 and 1969/2.148).

Inscriptions: Nishimuraya Yohachi (Publisher's seal); Kunisada ga (Artist's 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
Figures
Portraits
actors (performing artists)
backstages
bust-length
calligraphy
interiors
man
theaters (institutions)