The Actor Yoshizawa Ayame I

Object Details

• Label

  Yoshizawa Ayame I (1673-1729) was one of the most famous onnagata (actors of women's roles) in the history of kabuki. From his debut on stage in the Kamigata (Kyoto-Osaka) theaters, he excelled in the portrayal of women. Later, in Edo, he achieved such perfection in his acting that new superlatives were invented to describe his skill in the annual actors' critiques (Yakusha hyobanki). Ayame once wrote that an onnagata should become as close as possible to a woman in his daily life in order to portray his character more convincingly. Wearing an elegant kimono decorated with a pattern of pine branches, the actor sits on an outdoor bench holding a sprig of blossoming plum. A broken fan and scattered blossoms are strewn at his feet beside a sake cup, an ewer, and a tray of food.

• Provenance

  To 1900

  Bunkio Matsuki (1867-1940), Boston, to 1900 [1]

  From 1900 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Bunkio Matsuki in 1900 [2]

  From 1920

  Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [2]

  Notes:

  [1]

  See Original Kakemono List, L. 228, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.

  [2] See note 1.

  [3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  The Floating World: Ukiyo-e Paintings and Prints (December 8, 2002 to May 26, 2003)

  Fans (May 18, 1980 to October 13, 1981)

  Japanese Ceramics (April 11, 1978 to January 17, 1980)

  Japanese Ukiyo-e Painting (May 2, 1973 to July 1, 1974)

  Japanese Art—Paintings, Pottery (August 18, 1967 to September 20, 1971)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Bunkio Matsuki 松木文恭 (1867-1940) (C.L. Freer source)

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Origin

  Japan

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  CC0 - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0)

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  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1700s, 1710s, 1720s, 1770s, 1780s, 1790s, 1730s, 1740s, 1750s, 1760s, 1800s, 1810s, 1820s, 1830s, 1610s, 1650s, 1640s, 1630s, 1620s, 1690s, 1840s, 1680s, 1850s, 1670s, 1860s, 1660s

• Name

  Freer, Charles Lang, Matsuki, Bunkio

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

  Theater, Charles Lang Freer collection, Art, Actors and actresses, Balconies, Edo period, Japan, (1600 - 1868), Japanese Art, Lacquer, Ukiyo-e, Kakemono

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Paintings