Woodblock Print Item Number: 795/23 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Eighteen vertically rectangular prints (actually 6 triptychs) mounted together, creating a long horizontally rectangular set. The first triptych, at the left end, shows several actors on a stage: a man with a sword above his head, being tackled by another man from behind; a man half-lying on the floor; then a man with his back to the viewer, looking to the right. The next triptych shows a woman leaning against a post; a man sitting on the floor holding a fan; and a figure on some steps about to pull out a sword. The background is a building interior. The third triptych shows a woman kneeling, in front of bushes; then two figures with bare lower legs in front of a lake and bushes. The next series shows eight actors; three on the right panel, three in the left panel, two in the centre; seven are looking toward the central figure, who has light brown rays radiating out from behind, across all three pages. The next triptych shows a figure with a black beehive-shaped headdress on the right; a man with his arms outstretched wearing a vertically striped garment at centre; then a man with a rectangular, blue object at his back, wearing a black dome-shaped hat and holding a stick. The background is beige with green ground across all three. The last triptych, at the left end, also shows three figures; the figure on the right with a black beehive-shaped headdress sitting on a round black stool; the central figure holds a yellow fan, has his left foot raised in midair, and wears a striped garment; the figure at left sits with a blue box behind, holding a black domed hat and a stick. The background is yellow with a large tree and branches, across all three pages.
Narrative
This print is comprised of a combination of 6 triptychs, by 2 different artists. From right to left, triptych (section) 1: Artist: Utagawa, Kuniyoshi; (signed 一勇齊 国芳画 (Ichiyūsai Kuniyoshi ga). Triptych (section) 2: Artist: Utagawa, Kunisada; signed 一陽斎 豊国画 (Ichiyōsai Toyokuni ga). Triptych (section) 3: Artist: Utagawa, Kuniyoshi; signed 一勇齊 国芳画 (Ichiyūsai Kuniyoshi ga). Triptych (section) 4: Artist: Utagawa, Kuniyoshi; signed 一勇齊 国芳画 (Ichiyūsai Kuniyoshi ga). Triptych (section) 5: Artist: Utagawa, Kuniyoshi; signed 一勇齊 国芳画 (Ichiyūsai Kuniyoshi ga). Triptych (section) 6: Artist: Utagawa, Kunisada; signed 一陽斎 豊国画 (Ichiyōsai Toyokuni ga) on the middle print, and signed 香蝶楼 豊国画 (Kōchōrō Toyokuni ga) on the prints at the sides.
Item History
- Made by Kuniyoshi Utagawa (Maker) and Kunisada Utagawa (Maker) in Japan
- Owned by Anne M. Smith before May 6, 1982
- Received from Anne M. Smith (Donor) on May 6, 1982
What
- Name
- Woodblock Print
- Identification Number
- 795/23
- Type of Item
- Overall
- height 35.7 cm, width 452.8 cm
Who
- Culture
- Japanese
- Creator
- Kuniyoshi Utagawa (Maker) and Kunisada Utagawa (Maker)
- Previous Owner
- Anne M. Smith
- Received from
- Anne M. Smith (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Japan
When
- Ownership Date
- before May 6, 1982
- Acquisition Date
- on May 6, 1982
Other
- Item Classes
- works on paper
- Condition
- fair
- Accession Number
- 0795/0023