Drag Collection (page 3)

The Actor Nakamura Noshio I as Misao Disguised as a Komuso in the Play Kosode-gura... c. 1772. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Nakamura Noshio I as Misao Disguised as a Komuso in the Play Kosode-gura no Tekubari, Performed at the Morita Theater in the Second Month, 1772 (?), Japan, c. 1772

The Actor Yoshizawa Iroha I as Princess Yosooi (Yosooi Hime) in the Play Kikujido... c. 1775. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Yoshizawa Iroha I as Princess Yosooi (Yosooi Hime) in the Play Kikujido Shuen no Iwaya, Performed at the Morita Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1775, Japan, c. 1775

The Actor Nakamura Tomijuro I as the Courtesan Toyama in the Play Koi Nyobo Somewake... c. 1777. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Nakamura Tomijuro I I as the Courtesan Toyama in the Play Koi Nyobo Somewake Tazuna, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Ninth Month, 1777, Japan, c. 1777

The Actor Nakamura Tomijuro I as the Female Beancake Peddler Hyugaya in the Play... c. 1777. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Nakamura Tomijuro I I as the Female Beancake Peddler Hyugaya in the Play Chigo Torii Tobiiri Kitsune, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1777, Japan, c. 1777

The Actor Yamashita Kinsaku II as Moshio in the Play Izu-goyomi Shibai no Ganjitsu... c.1772. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Yamashita Kinsaku II as Moshio in the Play Izu-goyomi Shibai no Ganjitsu, Performed at the Morita Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1772, Japan, c. 1772

The actors Ichikawa Danjuro V as a skeleton, spirit of the renegade monk Seigen (left), an... 1783. Creator: Shunsho
The actors Ichikawa Danjuro V as a skeleton, spirit of the renegade monk Seigen (left), and Iwai Hanshiro IV as Princess Sakura (right)

Bust Portraits of Actors in Folding Fans: Ichikawa Danjuro V, Segawa Kikunojo III... c. 1788
Bust Portraits of Actors in Folding Fans: Ichikawa Danjuro V, Segawa Kikunojo III, Ichikawa Monnosuke II (right, top to bottom); Nakamura Nakazo I, Matsumoto Koshiro IV, Bando Mitsugoro II (left)

The Actor Ichikawa Danjuro V as the Spirit of Monk Seigen in the Shosagoto Dance Sequen... c. 1772. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Ichikawa Danjuro V as the Spirit of Monk Seigen in the Shosagoto Dance Sequence "Sono Utsushi-e Matsu ni Kaede" (A Shadow-Picture of Pine and Maple)

The Actors Nakamura Shichisaburo III (right), and Ichikawa Junzo I (left), in the Play Nue... c1772 Creator: Shunsho
The Actors Nakamura Shichisaburo III (right), and Ichikawa Junzo I (left), in the Play Nue no Mori Ichiyo no Mato, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1770, Japan, c. 1772

The Actor Nakamura Tomijuro I as the Courtesan Toyama of Tsuruga in the Play Keisei... c. 1775. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Nakamura Tomijuro I I as the Courtesan Toyama of Tsuruga in the Play Keisei Tsuki no Miyako, Performed at the Morita Theater in the Eighth Month, 1775, Japan, c. 1775

The Actor Segawa Kikunojo III as Onami Disguised as the Dragon Princess in the Play... c. 1778. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Segawa Kikunojo III as Onami Disguised as the Dragon Princess in the Play Saki Masuya Ume no Kachidoki, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1778, Japan, c. 1778

The Actor Nakamura Noshio I as Princess Usuyuki (Usuyuki Hime) in the play "Shin Usuyuki... c.1774
The Actor Nakamura Noshio I as Princess Usuyuki (Usuyuki Hime) in the play "Shin Usuyuki Monogatari, " performed at the Morita Theater in the fifth month, 1774, Japan, c. 1774

The Actor Segawa Kikunojo III as a Shirabyoshi Dancer in Musume Dojo-ji in the Play Ed... c. 1783. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Segawa Kikunojo III as a Shirabyoshi Dancer in Musume Dojo-ji in the Play Edo no Hana Mimasu Soga, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Fourth Month, 1783, Japan, c. 1783

The Actor Iwai Hanshiro IV as Mitsuogiya Usukumo in the Play Shida Choja-bashira... c. 1781. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Iwai Hanshiro IV as Mitsuogiya Usukumo in the Play Shida Choja-bashira, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Eighth Month, 1781, Japan, c. 1781

The Actor Segawa Yujiro I as Osai, a Female Hairdresser, in the Play Kamuri Kotoba Soga... c. 1776. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Segawa Yujiro I as Osai, a Female Hairdresser, in the Play Kamuri Kotoba Soga no Yukari, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the First Month, 1776, Japan, c. 1776

The Actor Yamashita Kinsaku II as Naoe in the Play Tsuma Mukae Koshiji no Fumizuki... c. 1780. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Yamashita Kinsaku II as Naoe in the Play Tsuma Mukae Koshiji no Fumizuki, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Eighth Month, 1780, Japan, c. 1780

The Actor Nakamura Tomijuro I as the Waitress Otake in the Play Chigo Suzuri Aoyagi... c. 1777. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Nakamura Tomijuro I I as the Waitress Otake in the Play Chigo Suzuri Aoyagi Soga, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the First Month, 1777, Japan, c. 1777

The Actor Segawa Kitsuji III as Murasame in the Play Gohiiki Kanjincho, Performed... c. 1773. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Segawa Kitsuji III as Murasame in the Play Gohiiki Kanjincho, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1773, Japan, c. 1773

The Actor Segawa Kikunojo II as the Courtesan Maizuru in the Play Furisode Kisaragi Soga... c.1772. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Segawa Kikunojo II as the Courtesan Maizuru in the Play Furisode Kisaragi Soga, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Second Month, 1772, Japan, c. 1772

The Actor Yoshizawa Sakinosuke III as Naniwazu in the Play Sugata no Hana Yuki no... c. 1776. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Yoshizawa Sakinosuke III as Naniwazu in the Play Sugata no Hana Yuki no Kuronushi, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1776, Japan, c. 1776

The Actor Iwai Hanshiro IV as Kojoro-gitsune of Hakata in the Play Hikitsurete Yagoe... c. 1776. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Iwai Hanshiro IV as Kojoro-gitsune of Hakata in the Play Hikitsurete Yagoe Taiheiki, Performed at the Morita Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1776, Japan, c. 1776

The Actor Yamashita Kinsaku II as Lady Kikusui (Kikusui Gozen) (?) in the Play Kaeribana... c.1779. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Yamashita Kinsaku II as Lady Kikusui (Kikusui Gozen) (?) in the Play Kaeribana Eiyu Taiheiki (?), Performed at the Nakamura Theater (?) in the Eleventh Month, 1779 (?), Japan, c. 1779

The Actor Segawa Kikunojo III as the Dragon Princess in the Play Saki Masuya Ume no... c. 1778. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Segawa Kikunojo III as the Dragon Princess in the Play Saki Masuya Ume no Kachidoki, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1778, Japan, c. 1778

The Actor Yamashita Mangiku I as Lady Yuya (Yuya Gozen) (?) in the Play Heike Hyobanki... c. 1789
The Actor Yamashita Mangiku I as Lady Yuya (Yuya Gozen) (?) in the Play Heike Hyobanki (?), Performed at the Nakamura Theater (?) in the Seventh Month, 1789 (?), Japan, c. 1789

The Actor Yamashita Mangiku I as Lady Yuya (Yuya Gozen) (?) in the Play Heike Hyobanki... c. 1789
The Actor Yamashita Mangiku I as Lady Yuya (Yuya Gozen) (?) in the Play Heike Hyobanki (?), Performed at the Nakamura Theater (?) in the Seventh Month, 1789 (?), Japan, c. 1789

The Actor Segawa Kikunojo III as the Spirit of Joro-gumo (Harlot Spider) Disguised as... c. 1781. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Segawa Kikunojo III as the Spirit of Joro-gumo (Harlot Spider) Disguised as the Maiko Tsumagiku (?), in the Play Shitenno Tonoi no Kisewata (?), Performed at the Nakamura Theater ()

The Actors Segawa Kikunojo III as Aigo no Waka (right), and Ichikawa Yaozo II as Hachio... c. 1774. Creator: Shunsho
The Actors Segawa Kikunojo III as Aigo no Waka (right), and Ichikawa Yaozo II as Hachio-maru Aratora (left), in the Play Chigo Sakura Jusan Kane

The Actors Ichimura Uzaemon IX as a Male Fox Disguised as the Sake Seller Iseya (left)... c. 1777. Creator: Shunsho
The Actors Ichimura Uzaemon IX as a Male Fox Disguised as the Sake Seller Iseya (left) and Nakamura Tomijuro I as a Female Fox Disguised as the Beancake Peddler Hyugaya

The Actor Onoe Tamizo I as Oiso no Tora or Kewaizaka no Shosho, Disguised as a Female... c. 1774. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Onoe Tamizo I as Oiso no Tora or Kewaizaka no Shosho, Disguised as a Female Komusu (?), in the Play Yui Kanoko Date-zome Soga (?), Performed at the Ichimura Theater ()

The Actor Nakamura Tomijuro I as Nagoya Osan in the Play Fuki Kaete Tsuki mo Yoshiwa... c. 1771/72. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Nakamura Tomijuro I as Nagoya Osan in the Play Fuki Kaete Tsuki mo Yoshiwara (Rethatched Roof: The Moon also Shines Over the Yoshiwara Pleasure District)

The Actors Nakamura Nakazo I as Onmaya Kisanda Dressed as Kakubei the Lion Dancer (Kaku... c. 1777. Creator: Shunsho)
The Actors Nakamura Nakazo I as Onmaya Kisanda Dressed as Kakubei the Lion Dancer (Kakubei-jishi) (right) and Segawa Kikunojo III as Shizuka Gozen (left)

Scene at the Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine, from Act One of Chushingura (Treasury of... c. late 1770s. Creator: Shunsho)
Scene at the Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine, from Act One of Chushingura (Treasury of the Forty-seven Loyal Retainers), from the series "Chushingura Juichimai-Tsuzuki

The Actor Nakamura Tomijuro I as Hangaku Gozen Breaking Down the Gate in the Play Wada... c. 1777. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Nakamura Tomijuro I as Hangaku Gozen Breaking Down the Gate in the Play Wada-gassen Onna Maizuru (The Wada Conflict: A Woman's "Maizuru")

The Actors Yamashita Kinsaku II as Mutsuhana (right), Bando Mitsugoro I as Kashiwagi n... c. 1771/7 Creator: Shunsho
The Actors Yamashita Kinsaku II as Mutsuhana (right), Bando Mitsugoro I as Kashiwagi no Emon (center), and Nakamura Sukegoro II as Akamatsu Mushanosuke (left)

The Actors Nakamura Nakazo I as Matsukaze (right), Ichikawa Komazo II as Ariwara no Yuk... c. 1772. Creator: Shunsho
The Actors Nakamura Nakazo I as Matsukaze (right), Ichikawa Komazo II as Ariwara no Yukihira (center), and Iwai Hanshiro IV as Murasame (left), in the Play Kuni no Hana Ono no Itsumoji

The Actors Nakamura Nakazo I as Matsukaze (right), Ichikawa Komazo II as Ariwara no Yuk... c. 1772. Creator: Shunsho
The Actors Nakamura Nakazo I as Matsukaze (right), Ichikawa Komazo II as Ariwara no Yukihira (center), and Iwai Hanshiro IV as Murasame (left), in the Play Kuni no Hana Ono no Itsumoji

The Actors Ichikawa Yaozo II as Yoshimine no Munesada (right), Yoshizawa Sakinosuke III... c. 1772. Creator: Shunsho
The Actors Ichikawa Yaozo II as Yoshimine no Munesada (right), Yoshizawa Sakinosuke III as Shizuya (center), and Nakamura Matsue I as Sakuragi (left), in the Play Kuni no Hana Ono no Itsumoji

The Actors Yamashita Yaozo I as Ono no Komachi (right), Matsumoto Koshiro II as Godai... c. 1772. Creator: Shunsho
The Actors Yamashita Yaozo I as Ono no Komachi (right), Matsumoto Koshiro II as Godai Saburo (center), and Ichikawa Danzo III as Otomo no Kuronushi (left)

The Actors Onoe Matsusuke I as Akaboshi Taro (right), and Azuma Tozo II as Shirotae... c. 1772. Creator: Shunsho
The Actors Onoe Matsusuke I as Akaboshi Taro (right), and Azuma Tozo II as Shirotae (left), in the Play Kono Hana Yotsugi no Hachi no Ki, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Eleventh Month

The Actors Nakamura Noshio I as Nyosan no Miya (right), Ichikawa Danjuro V as the Renega... c. 1772 Creator: Shunsho
The Actors Nakamura Noshio I as Nyosan no Miya (right), Ichikawa Danjuro V as the Renegade Monk Yochin (center), and Yamashita Kinsaku II as the Maid Mutsuhana (left)

The Actors Otani Hiroji III as Kawazu no Saburo (right), Segawa Kikunojo II as Princess... c. 1772. Creator: Shunsho
The Actors Otani Hiroji III as Kawazu no Saburo (right), Segawa Kikunojo II as Princess Tatsu (Tatsu Hime) (center), and Nakamura Sukegoro II as Matano no Goro (left)

The Actors Ichikawa Somegoro (right), Segawa Kikunojo II (center), and Bando Sampachi... c. 1772. Creator: Shunsho
The Actors Ichikawa Somegoro (right), Segawa Kikunojo II (center), and Bando Sampachi (left), in Unidentified Roles in the Play Myoto-giku Izu no Kisewata

The Actors Bando Zenji I as Nagahashi Saburo, Iwai Hanshiro IV as Otatsu-gitsune, Nakam... c. 1772. Creator: Shunsho
The Actors Bando Zenji I as Nagahashi Saburo, Iwai Hanshiro IV as Otatsu-gitsune, Nakamura Konozo as Hagai Ujitsune, and an Unidentified Actor (right to left), in the Play Nue no Mori Ichiyo no Mato

The Actors Nakamura Nakazo I as Taira no Kiyomori (right), and Yamashita Kinsaku II as... c. 1772. Creator: Shunsho
The Actors Nakamura Nakazo I as Taira no Kiyomori (right), and Yamashita Kinsaku II as Tokiwa Gozen (left), in the Play Nue no Mori Ichiyo no Mato

The Actors Nakamura Nakazo I as Taira no Kiyomori (right), and Yamashita Kinsaku II as... c. 1772. Creator: Shunsho
The Actors Nakamura Nakazo I as Taira no Kiyomori (right), and Yamashita Kinsaku II as Tokiwa Gozen (left), in the Play Nue no Mori Ichiyo no Mato

The Actors Iwai Hanshiro IV as Otatsu-gitsune, Nakamura Nakazo I as Raigo Ajari, Sakata... c. 1772. Creator: Shunsho
The Actors Iwai Hanshiro IV as Otatsu-gitsune, Nakamura Nakazo I as Raigo Ajari, Sakata Tojuro III as Kamada Gon-no-kami Masayori, and Ichikawa Yaozo II as Sakon-gitsune (right to left)

The Actor Yamashita Kinsaku II as Osaku (?) in the Play Onna Aruji Hatsuyuki no Sekai, ... c. 1773. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Yamashita Kinsaku II as Osaku (?) in the Play Onna Aruji Hatsuyuki no Sekai, Performed at the Morita Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1773, Japan, c. 1773

The Actors Otani Hiroji III as Yokambei (right), Nakamura Tomijuro I as Kuzunoha (ce, ... c. 1776. Creator: Shunsho)
The Actors Otani Hiroji III as Yokambei (right), Nakamura Tomijuro I as Kuzunoha (center), and Bando Mitsugoro I as Yakambei (left)

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"Unleashing the Power of Drag: A Journey through Time and Expression" Step into a world where boundaries are shattered, stereotypes challenged, and creativity reigns supreme. From Danny La Rue's iconic portrayal as a female impersonator in 1965 to Cecil Aldin's whimsical illustration of dogs walking in drag, the art has captivated hearts and minds for decades. In the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, Billy Wilder's publicity still for "Some Like It Hot" showcased how drag could be both hilarious and empowering. The Rocky Twins took it a step further by transforming themselves into the enchanting Dolly Sisters in Paris, proving that gender is merely a costume we wear. But drag isn't confined to stages or screens alone; it takes flight even at great heights. The Handley Page HP-80 Victor soared through the skies with its own flamboyant flair, defying expectations just like those who embrace this art form. Fortunino Matania's captivating painting "A Concert behind the Lines" reminds us that even during times of war, drag provided solace and entertainment—a testament to its enduring power to uplift spirits. As time marched on, so did the evolution of drag. In 1965, Danny La Rue continued to push boundaries with his mesmerizing performances that blurred lines between genders. Meanwhile, Sangers Circus cyclist pedaled fearlessly through Haverfordwest while donning fabulous attire—proof that anyone can find their inner diva on two wheels. Not limited by geography or culture either, Foujita embraced drag across continents—an artist unafraid to challenge societal norms wherever he went. And let us not forget Henri Clark's poignant music sheet depicting "The Poor Washerwoman, " reminding us that beneath layers of fabric lies stories waiting to be heard. From Hayle Carnival in Cornwall came The Penmare Boozy-Doos—drag enthusiasts who celebrated individuality amidst cheers and applause.