Iwai Hanshirō IV as a Woman with a Sword

Creator Name

Katsukawa Shunei (Japanese, 1762-1819);
勝川 春英

Cultural Context

Japan, Edo period (1615-1868)

Date

1791

About the work

Cleveland Museum of Art Object Description

In this unidentified role, Iwai Hanshirō IV is costumed as a woman with long flowing hair, wielding a sword. Men of the Edo period shaved their head from the forehead back to the crown, leaving the side and back hair long, though tied in an updo. Even after the practice was abandoned for Kabuki theater actors specializing in female roles, they kept the custom of concealing the area that would once have been bare, so Hanshirō has a murasaki no bōshi (紫の帽子), or purple headband, attached to his wig.

Work details

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Title

Iwai Hanshirō IV as a Woman with a Sword

Creator

Katsukawa Shunei (Japanese, 1762-1819), artist;
勝川 春英, artist

Worktype

Print

Cultural Context

Japan, Edo period (1615-1868)

Material

color woodblock print

Dimensions

Sheet: 31.5 x 14 cm (12 3/8 x 5 1/2 in.)

Technique

--

Language

--

Date

1791

Provenance

William S. Spaulding [1865–1937] and John T. Spaulding [1870–1948], Boston, MA, ?–1921; (American Art Association, November 18, 1921 sale, lot 638); (Yamanaka & Co., sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art), 1921; The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH, 1921–; Gift from J. H. Wade

Style Period

--

Rights

Curationist Logo
CC0
CC0

Inscription

Signature: Shunei ga Censorship Seal: kiwame

Location

--

Subject

--

Topic

--

All Works in Curationist’s archives can be reproduced and used freely. How to attribute this Work:

Katsukawa Shunei (Japanese, 1762-1819), Iwai Hanshirō IV as a Woman with a Sword, 1791, Cleveland Museum of Art. CC0.

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