Who painted Portrait of the Actor Nakayama Tomisaburo as a Woman?

Portrait of the Actor Nakayama Tomisaburo as a Woman was painted by Utagawa Kunimasa in 1800.

Where can I see Portrait of the Actor Nakayama Tomisaburo as a Woman?

Portrait of the Actor Nakayama Tomisaburo as a Woman is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Portrait of the Actor Nakayama Tomisaburo as a Woman?

Portrait of the Actor Nakayama Tomisaburo as a Woman is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Portrait of the Actor Nakayama Tomisaburo as a Woman

Utagawa Kunimasa , 1800

Portrait of the Actor Nakayama Tomisaburo as a Woman is a print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Kunimasa. It dates from 1800 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Portrait of the Actor Nakayama Tomisaburo as a Woman is a Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock print created by Utagawa Kunimasa around 1800. The work belongs to the yakusha-e genre, which focuses on portraits of kabuki actors in character.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts Nakayama Tomisaburo, a kabuki actor, dressed in female attire, indicating the actor's portrayal of a female role on stage. The calm facial expression, combined with the hat and fan, subtly suggests the blurring of real and performed identity.

Technique & Style

Executed in the traditional ukiyo-e technique, the print features a simple, expressive background with bold brushstrokes, contrasting with the detailed, patterned clothing of the subject. The composition highlights Kunimasa's balance between simplicity and nuanced detail.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1800 by Utagawa Kunimasa, a member of the Utagawa school, the print reflects the artist's specialization in yakusha-e and bijin-ga. Kunimasa's career was influenced by his apprenticeship under Utagawa Toyokuni in Edo.

Context

This work is contextualized within the flourishing kabuki theater and ukiyo-e print culture of late 18th-century Edo. It showcases the societal acceptance of male actors portraying female roles (onnagata) in traditional Japanese theater.