Onnagata Collection (#8)

The Actor Nakamura Tomijuro I, c. 1755. Creator: Ishikawa Toyonobu
The Actor Nakamura Tomijuro I, c. 1755

The Actors Nakamura Kiyosaburo I as Matsuyama and Ichimura Kamezo I as Wanya... 1749
The Actors Nakamura Kiyosaburo I as Matsuyama and Ichimura Kamezo I as Wanya Kyubei in the play " Yoritomo Gunbai Kagami, " performed at the Ichimura Theater in the eleventh month, 1749

The Actor Segawa Kikunojo I as a courtesan, c. 1747. Creator: Ishikawa Toyonobu
The Actor Segawa Kikunojo I as a courtesan, c. 1747. Probably a portrait of the actor playing the courtesan Nishikigi in " A Group of Sumo Wresters of the Izu Peninsula"

The Actor Yamashita Kinsaku II as Oume, Wife of Kisaku, in the Play Nue no Mori Ichiyo... c1770
The Actor Yamashita Kinsaku II as Oume, Wife of Kisaku, in the Play Nue no Mori Ichiyo no Mato, Performed a the Nakamura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1770, c. 1770

The Actor Segawa Kikunojo II as Oiso no Tora in the Play Soga Moyo Aigo no Wakamatsu, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the First Month, 1769, c. 1769

The Actor Onoe Matsusuke I as Oiso no Tora (?) (right), and Otani Taniji (left), c. 1770

The Actor Onoe Tamizo I as Nishikigi in the Play Mutsu no Hana Ume no Kaomise... c. 1769
The Actor Onoe Tamizo I as Nishikigi in the Play Mutsu no Hana Ume no Kaomise, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1769, c. 1769

The Actor Yamashita Kyonosuke I in a Female Role, c. 1769. Creator: Ippitsusai Buncho
The Actor Yamashita Kyonosuke I in a Female Role, c. 1769

The Actors Ichimura Uzaemon IX as Shume no Hangan Morihisa (right), and Sanogawa Ichimatsu II as Chujo (left), in the Play Edo no Hana Wakayagi Soga

The Actor Onoe Kikugoro I holding a puppet of the Actor Sanogawa Ichimatsu I, c. 1740s

The Actors Sanogawa Ichimatsu I as Oshichi and Nakamura Kumetaro I as Kichisaburo in the play " Izu Kosode Shobai Kagami, " performed at the Nakamura Theater in the second month, 1751, 1751

An Actor of Womans Roles, Japan, 1791. Creator: Hokusai
An Actor of Womans Roles, Japan, 1791

The Actor Ichikawa Komazo as a Woman with Dishevelled Hair, Japan, c. 1791

The Actor Anegawa Chiyosaburo from Kyoto, 1734. Creator: Nishimura Shigenobu
The Actor Anegawa Chiyosaburo from Kyoto, 1734

The Actor Onoe Kikugoro I as Soga no Goro, c. 1744. Creator: Okumura Masanobu
The Actor Onoe Kikugoro I as Soga no Goro, c. 1744

The Actor Sanogawa Ichimatsu I, c. 1744. Creator: Okumura Masanobu
The Actor Sanogawa Ichimatsu I, c. 1744

Sanjo Kantaro, from "A Triptych of Young Kabuki Actors: Edo, Right (Iroko... c. 1723. Creator: Okumura Masanobu)
Sanjo Kantaro, from "A Triptych of Young Kabuki Actors: Edo, Right (Iroko sanpukutsui: Edo, migi)", c. 1723

The Actor Sanogawa Mangiku as a woman walking in the snow, c. 1742

The Actors Sanjo Kantaro II as Osome and Ichikawa Monnosuke I as Hisamatsu, 1720. Creator: Okumura Toshinobu
The Actors Sanjo Kantaro II as Osome and Ichikawa Monnosuke I as Hisamatsu, 1720

The Actor Sanjo Kantaro as a courtesan, c. 1723. Creator: Okumura Toshinobu
The Actor Sanjo Kantaro as a courtesan, c. 1723

The Actor Hayakawa Hatsuse as a Flower Vendor, mid-1720s. Creator: Okumura Toshinobu
The Actor Hayakawa Hatsuse as a Flower Vendor, mid-1720s

The Actors Ichikawa Monnosuke as a nobleman and Dekishima Daisuke as a noblewoman, c. 1721

Tamaya Shinbei and Mikuni Kojoro, c. 1781/1818. Creator: Rekisentei Eiri
Tamaya Shinbei and Mikuni Kojoro, c. 1781/1818

The Actor Hayakawa Shinkatsu as a Woman Standing under Cherry Tree, c. 1724

The Actor Nakamura Matsue III as Keisei Agemaki, early 19th century

The Actor Nakamura Karoku I as Fujiya Azuma, 1827. Creator: Shunshosai Hokucho
The Actor Nakamura Karoku I as Fujiya Azuma, 1827

The Actors Yamashita Kinsaku II and Segawa Kikunojo II, c. 1757. Creator: Torii Kiyohiro
The Actors Yamashita Kinsaku II and Segawa Kikunojo II, c. 1757

The Actor Tsutsui Kichijuro, c. 1704. Creator: Torii Kiyomasu I
The Actor Tsutsui Kichijuro, c. 1704

The Actor Fujimura Handayu II as Oiso no Tora, c. 1715. Creator: Torii Kiyomasu I
The Actor Fujimura Handayu II as Oiso no Tora, c. 1715

The Actors Ichikawa Monnosuke I and Tamazawa Rinya, c. 1715. Creator: Torii Kiyomasu I
The Actors Ichikawa Monnosuke I and Tamazawa Rinya, c. 1715

Actor as a Standing Beauty, c. 1712. Creator: Torii Kiyomasu I
Actor as a Standing Beauty, c. 1712

The Actor Sanogawa Ichimatsu I as Yaoya Oshichi, c. 1751. Creator: Torii Kiyomasu
The Actor Sanogawa Ichimatsu I as Yaoya Oshichi, c. 1751. [Yaoya Oshichi was burned at the stake for attempting to commit arson]

The Actors Ichimura Kamezo I as Yosaku and Arashi Tominosuke I as Koman, c. 1754

The Actors Sanogawa Ichimatsu I as Kosoke and Arashi Tominosuke I as Okiku, mid-18th century

The Actor Onoe Kikugoro I, right sheet of "Flower Vendor Triptych
The Actor Onoe Kikugoro I, right sheet of " Flower Vendor Triptych (Hanauri sanpukutsui)", c. 1743

The Actor Takinaka Utagawa (Kasen), c. 1741. Creator: Torii Kiyomasu
The Actor Takinaka Utagawa (Kasen), c. 1741

The Actor Nakamura Takesaburo I in a female role, c. 1718. Creator: Torii Kiyomasu
The Actor Nakamura Takesaburo I in a female role, c. 1718

The Actor Tamazawa Saijiro in an unidentified role, c. 1740. Creator: Torii Kiyomasu
The Actor Tamazawa Saijiro in an unidentified role, c. 1740

A Triptych of Fashionable No Plays (Furyu Utai Sambukutsui), Japan, c. late 1750s. Creator: Miyagawa Shunsui
A Triptych of Fashionable No Plays (Furyu Utai Sambukutsui), Japan, c. late 1750s

Actors Attending Memorial for Arashi Rikan III, Japan, 1863. Creator: Mori Yoshiyuki
Actors Attending Memorial for Arashi Rikan III, Japan, 1863

The Portrait of Actors at the Ogura Cottage, 18th century. Creator: Nishimura Shigenaga
The Portrait of Actors at the Ogura Cottage, 18th century

Ogino Isaburo, from "A Triptych of Young Kabuki Actors: Kyoto, Center (Iroko... c)
Ogino Isaburo, from " A Triptych of Young Kabuki Actors: Kyoto, Center (Iroko sanpukutsui: Kyo, naka)", c. 1723

The Actor Arashi Wakano as a woman standing beneath a cherry tree, c. 1724

The Actors Ichimura Kamezo I as Jo and Ichimura Kichigoro as Uba in a scene from Takasago, c. 1760

The Actor Nakamura Gentaro as a woman playing battledore and shuttlecock, c. 1704

The Actors Onoe Kikugoro I and Utagawa Shirogoro, c. 1747. Creator: Torii Kiyomasu
The Actors Onoe Kikugoro I and Utagawa Shirogoro, c. 1747

The Actor Segawa Kikunojo I as Kuzunoha, c. 1737. Creator: Torii Kiyomasu
The Actor Segawa Kikunojo I as Kuzunoha, c. 1737

The Actors Ichikawa Danjuro II and Sodesaki Iseno I, c. 1727. Creator: Torii Kiyomasu
The Actors Ichikawa Danjuro II and Sodesaki Iseno I, c. 1727

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"Unveiling the Artistry of Onnagata: A Glimpse into the World of Kabuki Theatre" Step back in time to witness the mesmerizing performances of onnagata, male actors who specialized in portraying female roles in traditional Japanese kabuki theatre. This captivating art form comes alive through vibrant woodcut prints from the early 19th century. In one print, we see a group of talented actors gracefully dancing on stage, embodying the essence of four distinct onnagatas. Their elegant movements and exquisite costumes transport us to a world where gender boundaries blur and storytelling takes center stage. Ichikawa Danjuro VII captivates as Konoshita Tokichi, while Nakamura Daikichi embodies his wife with remarkable poise. Iwai Han enchants audiences with her portrayal, leaving them spellbound by her grace and beauty. Another print introduces us to Onoe Matsusuke I as the ghostly wet-nurse Iohata and Matsumoto Kojiro as they bring haunting emotions to life. Utagawa Toyokuni I's masterful artwork captures their ethereal presence, evoking both fear and fascination. Yamatoya Iwai Hanshiro IV shines brightly as Kikusui in "Matsuwa Misao Onna Kusunoki, " showcasing not only his acting prowess but also his ability to captivate hearts with every movement. The play unfolds before our eyes through Utagawa Toyokuni I's intricate details that breathe life into this historical moment. A whimsical scene reveals six actors dreaming about their upcoming roles for spring plays in 1804. Utagawa Toyokuni I's vivid imagination transports us into their mindscape filled with anticipation and excitement for what lies ahead. Hamamuraya presents Segawa Kikunojo III as Shirabyoshi Hisakata—a courtesan whose allure is captured effortlessly by the artist's brushstrokes.