Okuni Kabuki, mid 17th century
Unknown Japaneseexpand_more
Ink, color, and gold leaf on paperexpand_more
The John R. Van Derlip Fund; purchase from the collection of Elizabeth and Willard Clarkexpand_more 2013.31.191
Not on Viewexpand_more
The screen shows a raucous street scene in the entertainment quarter of Kyoto and a performance by Izumo no Okuni, the shrine priestess credited as the founder of the Kabuki theater. Okuni, dressed as a samurai, is performing one of her most famous skits, “Teahouse Entertainments” (“Chaya asobi”). She and her “male” attendant (who is played by a woman) perform a dance directed toward the owner of a teahouse. This screen could be by the hand of an artist from the school of Iwasa Matabei.
Details
- Title
- Okuni Kabuki
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2013.31.191
- Provenance
- Bumpei Usui 臼井文平 (in 1970); Leighton R. Longhi; S. Yabumoto, Ltd.; Scholten Japanese Art (until 2013); Willard G. and Elizabeth Clark (2013)
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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