Matsumoto Yonesaburo as Kewaizaka no Shosho in the Play "Katakiuchi Noriyaibanashi"

ca. 1794

Not on view

This portrait features another actor impersonating a female character, in this case an oiran, or high-ranking courtesan, in the Yoshiwara pleasure quarters of Edo. But there is another layer to this act: the character portrayed, Kewaizaka no Shosho, is here pretending to be another character in the play, Shinobu. Kewaizaka affects the mannerisms of this haughty temptress with the lewd gesture of extruding her fingers from a fold of her kimono. The long thin pipe in her hand punctuates this gesture.

Artwork Details

Title: Matsumoto Yonesaburo as Kewaizaka no Shosho in the Play "Katakiuchi Noriyaibanashi"
Artist: Tōshūsai Sharaku (Japanese, active 1794–95)
Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
Date: ca. 1794
Culture: Japan
Medium: Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Dimensions: 15 1/8 x 9 7/8 in. (38.4 x 25.1 cm)
Classification: Prints
Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1914
Object Number: JP197
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

By Tōshūsai Sharaku

In the same medium

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

The Actor Matsumoto Koshiro as Banzuin Chobei, Tōshūsai Sharaku Japanese, Monochrome woodblock print; ink on paper, Japan — The Actor Matsumoto Koshiro as Banzuin Chobei
Tōshūsai Sharaku

The Actor Onoye Matsusuke as a Ronin, Tōshūsai Sharaku Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan — The Actor Onoye Matsusuke as a Ronin
Tōshūsai Sharaku

Ichikawa Ebizo IV in the role of Takemura Sadanoshin, Tōshūsai Sharaku Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan — Ichikawa Ebizo IV in the role of Takemura Sadanoshin
Tōshūsai Sharaku
Probably late 1880s or early 1890s

Matsumoto Koshiro IV as the Fish Peddler Gorobei, Tōshūsai Sharaku Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper with mica ground, Japan — Matsumoto Koshiro IV as the Fish Peddler Gorobei
Tōshūsai Sharaku
Probably late 1880s or early 1890s

The Actor Segawa Tomisaburo II as the Otomos' Maid Wakakusa, Actually Prince Korehito, Tōshūsai Sharaku Japanese, Middle sheet of a triptych of woodblock prints; ink and color on paper, Japan — The Actor Segawa Tomisaburo II as the Otomos' Maid Wakakusa, Actually Prince Korehito
Tōshūsai Sharaku
1794–75

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.