The Actor Iwai Kumesaburo I as the Courtesan Agemaki

The Actor Iwai Kumesaburo I as the Courtesan Agemaki

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Utagawa Kunimasa

Kunimasa was an early student of Utagawa Toyokuni, and his actor portraits often rivaled his teacher’s. Unlike many print artists who entered the artist’s studio at an early age, Kunimasa began later in his life and was only four years younger than his mentor. His large-head portraits of kabuki actors evoked the dramatic and often exaggerated compositions of the enigmatic artist Toshusai Sharaku. Although his output was relatively small, Kunimasa was a major figure in developing the Utagawa school’s dominance in kabuki actor prints. In this print, Iwai Kumesaburo I plays the role of the courtesan Agemaki from the drama Omiura date no nebiki, which is a variation on the established play Sukeroku: The Flower of Edo. The actor was celebrated for his good looks, earning him the nickname “eyes worth 1,000 ryo” (a ryo was the highest monetary unit during the Edo period) from his adoring fans.
Artist
Utagawa Kunimasa
(Japanese)
Title
The Actor Iwai Kumesaburo I as the Courtesan Agemaki
Date
ca. 1799
Medium
Color woodcut
Dimensions
321 x 139 mm Overall
Credit
Bequest of John H. Van Vleck
Accession No.
1980.2609
Classification
Prints
Geography
Japan

Related

1924, purchased from Aoyama (Paris, France) by Edward Burr Van Vleck (Madison, WI); 1943, passed through inheritance to Edward’s son, John H. Van Vleck (Madison, WI); 9 January 1980, bequeathed by John H. Van Vleck to the Elvehjem Museum of Art [now called Chazen Museum of Art]

  • Mueller, Laura. "Competition and Collaboration: Japanese Prints of the Utagawa School." Leiden, The Netherlands: Hotei Publishing, 2007. p. 184, no. 170
  • Osumi, Takeshige, ed. "Edward Burr Van Vleck Collection Ukiyo-e Masterpieces Exhibition." Tokyo: Bun You Associates, 1999.
  • Elvehjem Museum of Art. "The Edward Burr Van Vleck Collection of Japanese Prints." Madison: Elvehjem Museum of Art, 1990. p. 251

  • Competition and Collaboration: Japanese Prints of the Utagawa School: Chazen Museum of Art, 11/3/2007–1/6/2008
  • Edward Burr Van Vleck Collection: Elvehjem Museum of Art, 10/13/1999–6/30/2000

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