| Item No. | CHB-11 |
| Description | by Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III, 1786–1864). This Japanese color woodblock print depicts two kabuki actors in a theatrical scene beneath a willow tree. One figure stands in an elaborately patterned costume carrying a suspended basket, while his companion sits below in subdued gray robes beside a large open framework or basket. Kunisada concentrates attention on the contrast between the two performers: the brilliant turquoise, blue, gold and orange patterns of the standing figure against the restrained gray costume of the seated actor. The drooping willow provides both a setting for the action and a strong vertical element unifying the composition. Utagawa Kunisada, who later took the name Toyokuni, was one of nineteenth-century Japan's most prolific designers and was particularly celebrated for yakusha-e, prints depicting kabuki actors and performance. |
| Material | Japanese color woodblock print (nishiki-e), ink and color on paper |
| Origin | Japan |
| Circa | 1850s, pending exact performance identification |
| Dimensions | 38 cm X 25 cm |
| Provenance | Bai Win Collection |
18,000NT$
- USD: 554US$
