Actor Onoe Eizaburo I as a Magician with a Giant Toad

Object Details

• Artist

  Utagawa Toyokuni I 歌川豊国 (1769-1825)

• Label

  Special stage effects were devised to enhance certain kabuki scenes, especially those involving magic and transformations. This print by Toyokuni, who was famous as a designer of actor prints, shows the actor Onoe Eizaburo I (1784-1849) as the villain, Tenjiku Tokubei, who learned toad sorcery. Here he forms a magical gesture with his hands as he stands behind a giant, fire-breathing toad. Despite damage at the bottom, this print projects a powerful image of a spectacular scene.

• Collection

  National Museum of Asian Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Masterful Illusions: Japanese Prints from the Anne van Biema Collection (September 15, 2002 to January 9, 2003)

• Origin

  Japan

• Credit Line

  The Anne van Biema Collection

• Type

  Print

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

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• 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

  Utagawa, Toyokuni

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

  Theater, Art, Actors and actresses, Toads, Edo period, Japan, (1600 - 1868), Magic, Japanese Art, Anne van Biema collection, Ukiyo-e

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Prints