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Object Type
Museum number: 1909,0618,0.35
Description: Colour woodblock print with powdered mica ground. The Kabuki actor Bando Hikosaburo III as Sagisaka Sanai in play 'The Loved Wife's Parti-Coloured Reins'; holding lantern. Signed, sealed and marked.
Producer name: Print artist: Toshusai Sharaku 東洲斎写楽; Published by: Tsutaya Juzaburo (蔦屋重三郎)
Cultures/periods
Production date: 1794
Production place: Published in: Edo
Materials
Technique: woodblock; colour
Dimensions: Height: 35.80 centimetres; Width: 24.20 centimetres
$Inscriptions
Curator's comments: Sagisaka Sanai was sponsor of Yosaku at his coming-of-age ceremony and always has his interests at heart. In the illustrated programme he is shown with a lantern meeting the lovers. (Label copy, TTC 1995); Smith 1988 Bando played the role of Sagisaka Sanai in 'The Loved Wife's Parti-Coloured Reins'. This play must have made a great impression on the emerging print-designer, for he did nine other portraits from this performance. The signature is 'Painted by Toshusai Sharaku'.
Bibliographic references: Smith 1988 / Ukiyoe: Images of Unknown Japan (137); Ukiyo-e shuka Vol 11 / Ukiyo-e shuka (10); Hizo Ukiyo-e taikan Vol 2 / Hizo Ukiyo-e taikan (BW 161)
Location: Not on display
Exhibition history: Exhibited: 2019-2020 19 Nov-19 Jan, Edo-Tokyo Museum, Japan, Masters of Ukiyo-e: Five Favorite Artists of Edo Japan
Subjects: actor/actress; kabuki
Associated names: Portrait of: Bando Hikosaburo III (三代目坂東彦三郎); Representation of: Sagisaka Sanai
Associated events: Associated Event: Koinyobo somewake tazuna 恋女房染分手綱 (The Loved Wife's Parti-Coloured Reins) (performed at Kawarasaki-za theatre in May 1794)
Associated titles
Acquisition name
Previous owner
Acquisition date: 1909
Department: Asia
Registration number: 1909,0618,0.35
Conservation: Treatment: 07 Mar 1996; Remount: 22 Aug 2019

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