The Actors Arashi Rikan II as Tsumahei and Sawamura Kunitaro as Magaki

Object Details

• Artist

  Hokumyo 北妙 (fl. ca. 1829-1837)

• Label

  This small print signed Shunko, the early name of the artist Hokumyo, shows the Osaka kabuki star Arashi Rikan II (Kichisaburo II; 1769-1821) in the male role of Tsumahei, and Sawamura Kunitaro II (?-1836) in the female role of Magaki. As shown here, Nakamura Utaemon III (1778-1838) appears in Osaka prints in double half-length portraits composed to focus on the actors' faces. These actors never performed together in the roles specified in the inscriptions. The print depicts a "dream" performance--one that kabuki fans might like to see--through mitate, an unexpected juxtaposition.

• 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

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• Date

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• Name

  Hokumyo

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

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

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Prints