Ichikawa Ebizō V as Tamiya Iemon & Onoe Kikugorō III as the Ghost of Oiwa 「神谷伊右衛門 ]市川海老蔵」 「お岩亡霊 尾上菊五郎」

Detail of a pattern
Image 1 of 3
IIIF

Terms of Use

Usage Conditions Apply

At A Glance

  • Period

    1836, 7th month
  • Geography

    Japan
  • Material

    Ink and color on paper
  • Dimension

    H x W (566a (right)): 38.1 × 26 cm (15 × 10 1/4 in)
  • Accession Number

    S2021.5.566a-b
  • EDAN ID

    edanmdm:fsg_S2021.5.566a-b

Object Details

  • Artist

    Utagawa Kuniyoshi 歌川国芳 (1798-1861)
  • Publisher

    Kawaguchiya Chozo 川口屋長蔵
  • Label

    The final location in the play Ghost Story of Yotsuya on the Tōkaidō is the Snake Mountain Hermitage, an isolated religious retreat where Iemon flees after the deaths of his victims, Oiwa, Kohei, Oume, and Kihei. Iemon is ill for several months—not safe from Oiwa even in his dreams, as she torments him and makes him sick.This diptych shows the most well-known effect in the play, the so-called chōchin nuke, or “escape from a lantern,” technique. Kuniyoshi’s version is more monstrous than flattering to the actor playing the role of Oiwa, as this artist was known for his violent and supernatural designs.
  • Collection

    National Museum of Asian Art Collection
  • Exhibition History

    Staging the Supernatural: Ghosts and the Theater in Japanese Prints (March 23 to October 6, 2024)
  • Origin

    Japan
  • Credit Line

    The Pearl and Seymour Moskowitz 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.

    The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The National Museum of Asian Art welcomes information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

Keep Exploring