Utagawa Yoshiiku: Silhouette of the Onnagata Actor Sawamura Tanosuke III Applying Makeup 田之」三代目沢村田之助 (Sold)

Artist: Ochiai (Utagawa) Yoshiiku (1833-1904)
Title: Actor Sawamura Tanosuke III Applying Powder田之」三代目沢村田之助Series: Portraits as True Likenesses in the Moonlight  真寫月花の姿絵 
Date: 1867

Realistic shadow portrait of the actor Sawamura Tanosuke III applying powder. The actor wrote a poem that may be seen in the beautiful script that ends with a seal of a red plover: 明やすゝおもふや花の川むかひ　田之. Tanosuke III was a leading onnagata, specialist in female roles, who was apparently so influential that s/he set new styles in women’s fashions. S/he tragically contacted gangrene and had a leg amputated in 1865, yet they continued to perform on stage for a number of years after this. The actor would take roles that accommodated their disability, something quite unusual for the time.

Inspired by popular shadow performances, which were performed in front of a sliding door with a bright light behind them, as well as the development of photographs by camera, Yoshiiku made this series of works that portray the silhouettes of 36 famous actors, comparing them to the 36 Immortal Poets. They seem to have been done from life, with the actors actually sitting for their portraits behind a screen, as this is illustrated in the preface for the series. It is unusual in ukiyo-e to see actors portrayed in a way that may be today considered “realistic”, as features were generally stylized within certain artistic conventions. 

Condition: Excellent impression and color: very good condition. With wormage in the left margin only.
Dimensions: ôban (36.8 x 24.8 cm)
Publisher: Kikujudo
Literature:  See MFA Boston, Honolulu Museum of Art and the Brooklyn Museum for other works from this series.

Signature: Ikkeisai Yoshiiku sha 一恵斎芳幾写

SKU: YII047