Segawa Kikunojō III as Teruha

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–)

Segawa Kikunojō III as Teruha

Katsukawa Shunshō

1778

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

Print

Museum

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Cleveland, United States

Credit Line

Sundry Purchase Fund