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Kabuki Theatre: Fuwa

ca 1900

About the Item

Kabuki Theatre Meji 33 (ca1900) Woodblock Original Hand-Color. Woodblock printing flowered in the Edo Period, mid to late 19th century, and is still considered an art form of great precision and beauty. Following the artist sketch, an image is carved into a block of wood. Black inks form the outline of the flower and color inks are applied to specific areas. The woodblock is then pressed to hand-made screened paper which is then hung dry. The entire process of composing a single image can take weeks. The history of kabuki began in 1603 when Izumo no Okuni began performing a new style of dance drama in the dry riverbeds of Kyoto, present-day Toyko. The style was immediately popular, and Okuni was asked to perform before the Imperial Court. In the wake of such success, rival troupes quickly formed, and kabuki was born as ensemble dance and drama performed by women—a form very different from its modern incarnation. Much of its appeal in this era was due to the ribald, suggestive themes featured by many troupes; this appeal was further augmented by the fact that the performers were often also available for prostitution. Kabuki became a common form of entertainment in Yoshiwara, the registered red-light district in Edo. A diverse crowd gathered under one roof, something that happened nowhere else in the city. Kabuki theaters were a place to see and be seen as they featured the latest fashion trends and current events. The stage provided good entertainment with exciting new music, patterns, clothing, and famous actors. Often men would play both male and female roles. Performances went from morning until sunset. The teahouses surrounding or connected to the theater provided meals, refreshments, and good company. The area around the theatres was lush with shops selling kabuki souvenirs. Kabuki, in a sense, initiated pop culture in Japan. Today, kabuki is the most popular of the traditional styles of Japanese drama—and its star actors often appear in television or film roles.
  • Creation Year:
    ca 1900
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 18.5 in (46.99 cm)Width: 21 in (53.34 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    Clean, crisp image. Beautiful original colors. Framed to museum specifications using archival matting, backing, and hinging. Silk matting with wooden frame and fillet. Glazed with ultra-violet filtering Plexiglas.
  • Gallery Location:
    Florham Park, NJ
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 2015 09-30-151stDibs: LU652588292
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