Description
Men perform all the roles in Kabuki, a form of Japanese theater. Some actors specialize in onnagata (女形), or female roles. Segawa Kikunojō III was one of the most famous onnagata actors of his day. Here, he plays a character called Teruha in what was once the center print of a triptych (a composition of three prints). Teruha is officiating a wrestling match that also involves red and white roosters.
Provenance
Minamoto; Hayashi Tadamasa; (Yamanaka & Co., sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art) (?–1920); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (1920–)
Accession Number
1920.157
Medium
color woodblock print
Dimensions
Sheet: 32.4 x 14.6 cm (12 3/4 x 5 3/4 in.)
Classification
Credit Line
Sundry Purchase Fund