Dressing Room Scenes at the Dotonbori Theatres in Osaka thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Dressing Room Scenes at the Dotonbori Theatres in Osaka

Woodblock Print
1821-1822 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is the left hand sheet of a triptych by Kunisada (1786-1864) depicting the interiors of the Kado-za and Naka-za kabuki theatres in the Dotonbori district of Osaka. A large group of kabuki actors (all kabuki actors are male) from Edo (present-day Tokyo) performed in Osaka in 1821 and 1822. Kunisada travelled to Osaka at the time and designed prints like this to be sold in Edo. This work is particularly valuable for the information it provides on backstage arrangements and the structures of Osaka theatres, which were relatively simple two-storey affairs, unlike the more elaborate buildings found in Edo.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleDressing Room Scenes at the Dotonbori Theatres in Osaka (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Colour woodblock print
Brief description
Woodblock print, one sheet of a triptych (with E.5996 and 5997-1886), by Utagawa Kunisada I (1786-1864) depicting backstage views of the Kado-za and Naka-za Kabuki theatres in Osaka, Japanese, 1821-1822
Physical description
This work (one part of a triptych) provides valuable information on the actors backstage and the structure of theatres in Osaka, which were relatively simple two-storied buildings, unlike those in Edo.
Oban size. Signature: Gototei Kunisada ga. Publisher: Nishimuraya Yohachi. Censorship seal: kiwame
Dimensions
  • Height: 35.7cm
  • Width: 71.8cm
Style
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
This is the left hand sheet of a triptych by Kunisada (1786-1864) depicting the interiors of the Kado-za and Naka-za kabuki theatres in the Dotonbori district of Osaka. A large group of kabuki actors (all kabuki actors are male) from Edo (present-day Tokyo) performed in Osaka in 1821 and 1822. Kunisada travelled to Osaka at the time and designed prints like this to be sold in Edo. This work is particularly valuable for the information it provides on backstage arrangements and the structures of Osaka theatres, which were relatively simple two-storey affairs, unlike the more elaborate buildings found in Edo.
Associated objects
Collection
Accession number
E.5995-1886

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Record createdDecember 8, 2002
Record URL
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