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Sawamura Tanosuke [III] as Kunishichi’s (?) wife, O…

Utagawa Kunisada II

Artwork Details

Sawamura Tanosuke [III] as Kunishichi’s (?) wife, O…
1859-1865
Utagawa Kunisada II
woodblock print on paper
14 5/16 in. x 9 1/2 in. ( 36.4 cm x 24.1 cm )
Gift of Dr. James Hayes
2003/1.585

Description

Subject Matter:

Actor Sawamura Tanosuke III was born into a family of kabuki actors in 1845. He was active from the time he was a child, in 1849. In the later part of his life he suffered from an unknown ailment that caused him to have both feet and parts of his hands amputated.  In spite of his disability, he continued to perform until his death in 1878.  He was best known for his onnagata (“female form” or “female role”) roles and for contemporary plays.

Physical Description:

This is a print of a woman.  She wears a dark striped robe with red trim.  Behind her is a room partition in front of paper walls and a wooden sliding door.  The sash she is carrying is black with gold trim on one end and two Chinese characters.
 
Inscriptions: Artist’s signature: Kunisada ga; Publisher’s seal: Shitaya, Aito; Censor’s seal: Aratame, I 3; Kunishichi nyōbō Okaji, Sawamura Tanosuke

Usage Rights:

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