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.
An actor in the role of the samurai Nagoya Sanza
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Description
‘Large head’ pictures (ōkubi-e), showing just the head and shoulders of the subject rather than the whole body, became popular after the 1780s. Ōkubi-e allowed the print designer to emphasize particular facial features, expressions or make-up of the actor depicted.
Depiction of costumes also formed an essential feature of actor prints. Motifs and patterns on costumes often emphasize the emotions of a role, or reflect in some way the content of the play. The dashing young samurai depicted here is easily identified by his kimono, which is decorated with a distinctive pattern of swallows in the rain.
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Details
- Series
- Ukiyo's Sword Hilt, a Double Grave Mound and the Mark of the Lightning Bolt
- Associated place
- Date
- designed 1860
- Artist/maker
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Utagawa Kunisada (1823-1880) (designer)
- Associated people
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Ōtaya Takichi (active c. 1848 - 1867) (publisher)
- Material and technique
- woodblock
- Dimensions
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mount 55.6 x 40.6 cm (height x width)
print 36 x 24 cm (height x width)
- Material index
- Technique index
- Object type index
- No. of items
- 1
- Credit line
- Presented by Mrs Allan and Mr and Mrs H. N. Spalding, 1952.
- Accession no.
- EAX.4211
Glossary
kimono
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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
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- 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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