Katsukawa SHUNKÔ
(Japan 1743–1812)
- Title
- Onnagata Nakamura Noshio dancing in the role of a fox-girl
- Other titles:
- Actor in the role of a woman (Nakamura Noshio I), A dancing kabuki actor
(Actor Nakamura Noshio dancing) - Place of origin
-
Japan
- Period
- Edo (Tokugawa) period 1615 - 1868 → Japan
- Year
- circa 1794
- Media category
- Materials used
- colour woodblock print
- Dimensions
-
Hosoban tate-e: 29.2 x 14.8cm image/sheet
- Signature & date
- Signed c.l. in Japanese, ink [incised on block] "Shunkô ga [picture by Shunkô]". Not dated.
- Credit
- Purchased 1930
- Accession number
- 4351
- Location
- Not on display
- Further information
In Japanese folklore, the fox is a cunning animal that can assume human form. Here he takes the form of a woman, his hand curled like a forepaw - a clue to the disguise. The small cap worn on the forehead was standard headgear for 'onnagata'. The scene is heavily autumnal, with maple leaves above and the actor carrying chrysanthemums. Shunkô was first among the pupils devoted to the theatre of leading 'ukiyo-e' artist Katsukawa Shunshô (1726-93), founder of the important Katsukawa school.
The Asian Collections, AGNSW, 2003, pg.248.
- Bibliography (4)
-
Jackie Menzies (Australia) (Author), The Floating World: Japan's world of transient pleasures, Sydney, 1994. cat.no. K17
Gary Hickey (Author), Beauty & desire in Edo period Japan, Parkes, 1998, 14 (colour illus.), 70. fig.no. 7
AJIOKA Chiaki (Japan) (Curator), Heroes and villains: from Japan's floating world, Sydney, May 2001, 8. cat.no. 3.17
'The Floating World', The Asian Collections Art Gallery of New South Wales 2003, 2003, 248 (colour illus.).
- Exhibition history (3)
-
The Floating World: Japan's World of transient pleasures, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 25 May 1994–17 Jul 1994.
Beauty and Desire in Edo period Japan, National Gallery of Australia, 06 Jun 1998–09 Aug 1998.
Heroes and Villains, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 19 May 2001–19 Aug 2001.
