Title: The Actor Nakamura Utaemon in the Role of Kato Masakiyo

Description

• The Japanese art of Ukiyo-e (“Pictures of the floating [or sorrowful] world”) developed in the city of Edo (now Tokyo) during the Tokugawa or Edo Period (1600-1868), a relatively peaceful era during which the Tokugawa shoguns ruled Japan and made Edo the seat of power. The Ukiyo-e tradition of woodblock printing and painting continued into the 20th century. This print from between 1818 and 1830 shows the actor Nakamura Utaemon portrayed as a warrior in the role of Kato Kiyomasa (Masakiyo), a 16th-century general who led Japanese forces in the Seven Year War (1592-98) against Korea.

Artist

• Shunkōsai, Hokushū (Flourished 1810-1850)

Language

• Japanese

Place

• East Asia > Japan

Time

• 1800 CE - 1849 CE

Topic

• Arts & recreation > Sports, games & entertainment > Stage presentations

Additional Subjects

• Kato, Kiyomasa;
• Ukiyo-e;
• Woodcuts

Type of Item

• Prints, Photographs

Physical Description

• 1 print: woodcut, color ; 38.2 x 25.4 centimeters

Collection

• Japanese Prints and Drawings Collection

Institution

• Library of Congress