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The Actor Ichimura Uzaemon IX as a Young Woman with a Branch of Cherry Blossoms
The Actor Ichimura Uzaemon IX as a Young Woman with a Branch of Cherry Blossoms

The Actor Ichimura Uzaemon IX as a Young Woman with a Branch of Cherry Blossoms

Artist/Maker (Japanese, 1752–1815)
Publisher
Date1774
MediumColor woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
DimensionsVertical hosoban; overall: 12 3/16 × 5 3/8 in. (31 × 13.7 cm)
Credit LineMary A. Ainsworth Bequest
Object number1950.331
Status
Not on view
More Information
The role and kabuki play referenced by this print has not yet been identified, but from the style of the artist’s signature the print can be dated to 1774. The actor performing the role of a madwoman is Ichimura Uzaemon IX (1725–85), who was known for his performances in plays about the Soga brothers. He was also known for dances featuring seven quick character shifts (shichihenge) and for dramatic masculine roles (aragoto).

This is an extremely rare print, not found in any other known collection. We see here that Kiyonaga was working in a style deeply influenced by his teacher Kiyomitsu I, but with his own confident control of line and composition.
Exhibition History
Ukiyo-e Prints from the Mary Ainsworth Collection
  • Chiba City Museum of Art, Chiba, Japan (April 13, 2019 - May 25, 2019 )
  • Shizuoka City Museum of Art, Shizuoka, Japan (June 8, 2019 - July 28, 2019 )
  • Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts, Osaka, Japan (August 10, 2019 - September 29, 2019 )
Ukiyo-e Prints from the Mary Ainsworth Collection
  • Allen Memorial Art Museum, Oberlin, OH (January 14, 2020 - December 6, 2020 )
Collections
  • Asian
This record was created from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator. Noticed a mistake? Have some extra information about this object? Please contact us.