Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

Ashmolean − Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

Yakusha-e: Kabuki Prints, a Continuing Tradition

(from 29th Nov 2011 until 4th Mar 2012)

Discover the brightly coloured woodblock prints of actors from Japanese popular theatre.

Detail of The actor Nakamura Shikan IV as the fisherman Fukashichi, Tōkyō, 1869 (Museum No: EA1971.2
The character Umeōmaru at Umenoki Village, between Minakuchi and Ishibefront

© Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford

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The character Umeōmaru at Umenoki Village, between Minakuchi and Ishibe

  • Description

    The hugely popular kabuki play ‘Sugawara and the Secrets of Calligraphy’ is based on the life of a ninth-century courtier and calligrapher, who was falsely accused of treason and banished from the court. The character of Umeōmaru is one of a set of triplets, each a loyal retainer to one of the main characters. Ume means ‘plum blossom’ and the pattern on Umeōmaru’s kimono identifies him.

    The actor wears the bright red face make-up known as ‘kumadori’. This type of make-up emphasizes a character’s intense emotions and was worn by kabuki actors when performing the roles of superheroes or villains.

  • Details

    show all
    Series
    Sugawara and the Secrets of Calligraphy
    Associated place
    Asia › Japan › Honshū › Kantō › Tōkyō prefecture › Tōkyō (place of creation)
    Asia › Japan › Honshū › Kantō › Tōkyō prefecture › Tōkyō (place of publication)
    Asia › Japan › Honshū › Tōkaidō road (Umenoki Village) (subject)
    Date
    1852
    Artist/maker
    Utagawa Kunisada (1823-1880) (designer)
    Associated people
    Sumiyoshiya Masagorō (active mid-19th century) (publisher)
    Fukushima Giemon (active c. 1849 - 1853) (censor)
    Ichikawa Omezō II (active mid-19th century) (subject)
    Material and technique
    Nishiki-e, woodblock print with ink and colour
    Dimensions
    mount 55.6 x 40.2 cm (height x width)
    sheet 35.1 x 24.5 cm (height x width)
    Material index
    processed material › paper
    Technique index
    printed › relief print › woodcut › colour woodcut
    Object type index
    visual representation › print
    No. of items
    1
    Credit line
    Presented by Christ Church College, University of Oxford, 1983.
    Accession no.
    EA1983.44

Glossary

kimono

  • kimono

    Kimonos, or 'the thing worn' in Japanese, had seasonal designs. The style of kimonos would change four times a year, and winter kimonos would be padded.

Past Exhibition

see (1)

Location

    • currently in research collection

Objects are sometimes moved to a different location. Our object location data is usually updated on a monthly basis. Contact the Jameel Study Centre if you are planning to visit the museum to see a particular object on display, or would like to arrange an appointment to see an object in our reserve collections.

 

Notice

Objects from past exhibitions may have now returned to our stores or a lender. Click into an individual object record to confirm whether or not an object is currently on display. Our object location data is usually updated on a monthly basis, so please contact the Jameel Study Centre if you are planning to visit the museum to see a particular Eastern Art object.

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