Dressing Room Scenes at the Dotonbori Theatres in Osaka
Woodblock Print
early 1820s (made)
early 1820s (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is the right-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
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Dressing Room Scenes at the Dotonbori Theatres in Osaka (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Woodblock print on paper |
| Brief description | Woodblock print, sheet of triptych 'Dressing Room Scenes at the Dotonbori Theatres in Osaka' by Utagawa Kunisada I (1786-1864), Japan, 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 |
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| 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. A large group of Edo kabuki stars performed in Osaka in 1821 and 1822. Kunisada was in Osaka at the time and designed these prints to be sold in Edo. |
| Summary | This is the right-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.5997-1886 |
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| Record created | December 8, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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