Utagawa Kunisada (歌川国貞) / Toyokuni III (三代豊国) (artist 1786 – 01/12/1865)
Iwai Hanshirō V (岩井半四郎) with Matsumoto Kōshirō V (松本幸四郎) on stage - in the center panel of a triptych entitled 大当三階花見図 - the figure in the background is Sawamura Kawazō (澤村川蔵)
1820s
9.625 in x 13.875 in (Overall dimensions) Japanese woodblock print
Signed: Gototei Kunisada ga
五渡亭国貞画
Publisher: Kawaguchiya Uhei
(Marks 232 - seal 21-142)
Waseda University
Waseda University - left-hand panel
Waseda University - right-hand panel
Japan Arts Council - the full triptych
Rijksmuseum A brief description of the full triptych
The notes accompanying the full triptych at the National Theater of Japan suggest the the entire composition is a mitate, or in this case, an imaginary assembling of famous actors backstage. Each panel features one or two prominent performers in the foreground with lesser known ones in the background. Perhaps for overall balance the center panel shows Iwai Hanshirō V and Matsumoto Kōshirō V in the foreground with a named, but unknown actor behind them in the middle distance. That actor is identified as Sawamura Kawazō (澤村川蔵), but nothing else is known of this man.
On the right-hand panel Ichikawa Danjūrō VII (市川團十郎) is the most prominent character. Behind him are three other actors. The one on the far right, seated, is possibly Matasumoto Kōshirō V (三枡 源之助); standing to the right of him is Onoe Matsusuke III (尾上松助); and seated to his right is Mimasu Gen'nosuke (三枡 源之助).
The main actor in the foreground on the left-hand panel is Onoe Kikugorō III (尾上菊五郎). Behind him from the left is Ichikawa Ginpei (市川銀兵衛); Sawamura Tōzō (澤村東蔵); Ichikawa Komazō V (市川高麗蔵); and Bando Zenji II (坂東善次).
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The actor Iwai Hanshirō V was a famous onnagata in his day. In this print he is wearing a kimono decorated with irises and butterflies. Irises appear in the scenery in the background, too. This is a clue which will be solved later.
Above the onnagata's head is a lantern that reads 御休所 [おやすみどころ: oyasumi dokoro] which means 'resting place'.
The title which is seen in the upper right corner of the right-hand panel, not shown here, is 大當三階花見図.
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Illustrated in a small black and white reproduction in the Catalogue of the Collection of Japanese Prints Part IV - Hiroshige and the Utagawa School, Rijksprentkabinet/Rijksmuseum, 1984, no. 136, p. 82.
actor prints (yakusha-e - 役者絵) (genre)
Iwai Hanshirō V (五代目岩井半四郎: 11/1804-11/1832) (actor)
Matsumoto Kōshirō V (五代目松本幸四郎: 11/1801 to 5/1838) (actor)
Kawaguchiya Uhei (川口屋卯兵衛) (publisher)
mitate-e (見立て絵) (genre)