The Actors Ichimura Uzaemon XIII and Kawarazaki Gonjūrō I Announcing Their Return to the Stage after Recovering from Measles
Woodblock Print
1862 (published)
1862 (published)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The Deadly Measles Outbreak of 1862
During the Edo period (1615–1868), measles was a common disease in Japan, and an epidemic struck every 20 to 30 years. The outbreak in 1862 was one of the worst, claiming tens, perhaps hundreds of thousands of lives in the city of Edo (present-day Tokyo) alone. These works, known as ‘measles prints’, were produced at the height of the crisis. Their wry humour encouraged social solidarity and gave hope and levity to people affected by the virus. The affordable prints also included written information about how to prevent infection or relieve symptoms.
During the Edo period (1615–1868), measles was a common disease in Japan, and an epidemic struck every 20 to 30 years. The outbreak in 1862 was one of the worst, claiming tens, perhaps hundreds of thousands of lives in the city of Edo (present-day Tokyo) alone. These works, known as ‘measles prints’, were produced at the height of the crisis. Their wry humour encouraged social solidarity and gave hope and levity to people affected by the virus. The affordable prints also included written information about how to prevent infection or relieve symptoms.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | The Actors Ichimura Uzaemon XIII and Kawarazaki Gonjūrō I Announcing Their Return to the Stage after Recovering from Measles (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Woodblock print on paper |
| Brief description | Woodblock print, 'The actors Ichimura Uzaemon XIII and Kawarazaki Gonjūrō I announcing their return to the stage after recovering from measles', by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839–92), Edo (Tokyo), 1862 |
| Physical description | Woodblock print. Ōban format. Nishiki-e (full-colour print). Figures on plain ground. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Signed Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi ga |
| Gallery label |
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| Object history | Purchased from S. M. Franck & Co., accessioned in 1886. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project. |
| Summary | The Deadly Measles Outbreak of 1862 During the Edo period (1615–1868), measles was a common disease in Japan, and an epidemic struck every 20 to 30 years. The outbreak in 1862 was one of the worst, claiming tens, perhaps hundreds of thousands of lives in the city of Edo (present-day Tokyo) alone. These works, known as ‘measles prints’, were produced at the height of the crisis. Their wry humour encouraged social solidarity and gave hope and levity to people affected by the virus. The affordable prints also included written information about how to prevent infection or relieve symptoms. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.14231-1886 |
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| Record created | June 25, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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