Kabuki seeks picturesque beauty, and so became a suitable subject for nishiki-e. For example, we can see the lively figures of people enjoying themselves inside and outside of the theatre in pictures of the way people behaved towards the theatre, and in pictures of the structures and audiences inside. In contrast, there were also images that depicted well-known scenes of plays, symbolic patterns, items, and other objects amongst actual landscapes and scenery rather than on stage.
Actors involved in the kaomise performances exchange New Year's greetings
Artist: Utagawa Toyokuni III
National Theatre collection (NA0075256000)
The inside of a theatre during a performance of ”Shibaraku”
Artist: Utagawa Toyokuni III
National Theatre collection (NA081560)
People enjoying the cool of the evening by the Sumida River. The people in the foreground resemble the actors of the time
Artist: Utagawa Toyokuni I
National Diet Library collection (寄別2-6-2-5)
Actors involved in the kaomise performances exchange New Year's greetings
Artist: Utagawa Toyokuni III
National Theatre collection (NA0075256000)
The inside of a theatre during a performance of ”Shibaraku”
Artist: Utagawa Toyokuni III
National Theatre collection (NA081560)
People enjoying the cool of the evening by the Sumida River. The people in the foreground resemble the actors of the time
Artist: Utagawa Toyokuni I
National Diet Library collection (寄別2-6-2-5)
Yakusha-e, which used the appearance and skills of actors as their subjects, were particularly popular. A certain scene might be drawn with the actors who actually performed it, with an ideal cast that was impossible in reality, with only a single actor and a background, or with just one actor and no background. Among these, designs that depicted only the upper body or face of an actor and emphasized their characteristics were welcomed by that actor’s fans, and were actively created in competition with each other.
The scene in which Otomi and Yosaburo meet for the first time at the beach at Kisarazu
Artist: Utagawa Toyokuni III
National Theatre collection (NA0075263000)
Bando Mitsugoro III playing Sagimusume
Artist: Utagawa Toyokuni I
National Theatre collection (NA080040)
Kawarasaki Gonjuro I (Ichikawa Danjuro IX) in front of a noren curtain given by a fan
Artist: Toyohara Kunichika
National Theatre collection (NA111220)
Arashi Rikan IV, an actor who worked in Osaka
Artist: Hasegawa Sadanobu II
National Theatre collection (NA0080114000)
The scene in which Otomi and Yosaburo meet for the first time at the beach at Kisarazu
Artist: Utagawa Toyokuni III
National Theatre collection (NA0075263000)
Bando Mitsugoro III playing Sagimusume
Artist: Utagawa Toyokuni I
National Theatre collection (NA080040)
Kawarasaki Gonjuro I (Ichikawa Danjuro IX) in front of a noren curtain given by a fan
Artist: Toyohara Kunichika
National Theatre collection (NA111220)
Arashi Rikan IV, an actor who worked in Osaka
Artist: Hasegawa Sadanobu II
National Theatre collection (NA0080114000)
There were also designs that showed the actors offstage in their dressing rooms, which aroused fans’ curiosity, and those that drew a crowd of actors in familiar scenes such as fireworks or flower viewing, which entertained viewers. Memorial designs were also created when an actor died—these might depict the actor journeying to the next world wearing a costume from a popular role, or the actor together with another actor who had passed away.
Detailed depiction of the backstage area, with actors and people associated with the theatre such as wig-makers
Artist: Utagawa Toyokuni III
National Theatre collection (NA081330)
Sawamura Tanosuke III having makeup put on in his dressing room
Artist: Utagawa Toyokuni III
National Theatre collection (NA0075225000)
A set of prints from a series depicting a number of actors in front of famous places
Artist: Utagawa Toyokuni I
National Theatre collection (NA0073593000)
Actors wearing their own alternative family crests and patterns in accordance with the wishes of patrons, who wanted to see the actors' real names and lives
Artist: Utagawa Toyokuni III
National Theatre collection (NA0075269000)
Grieving the death of Ichikawa Ebizo V (Ichikawa Danjuro VII), actors, people connected with the theatre, artists, and even animals from plays are in tears
National Theatre collection (NA0058194000)
Actors who died at almost the same time set off for Paradise, while stars who died previously are in the world above the sky
National Theatre collection (NA0043781000)
The faces of the toys lined up in the front of the toy shop resemble the faces of actors
Artist: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
National Theatre collection (NA071100)
Detailed depiction of the backstage area, with actors and people associated with the theatre such as wig-makers
Artist: Utagawa Toyokuni III
National Theatre collection (NA081330)
Sawamura Tanosuke III having makeup put on in his dressing room
Artist: Utagawa Toyokuni III
National Theatre collection (NA0075225000)
A set of prints from a series depicting a number of actors in front of famous places
Artist: Utagawa Toyokuni I
National Theatre collection (NA0073593000)
Actors wearing their own alternative family crests and patterns in accordance with the wishes of patrons, who wanted to see the actors' real names and lives
Artist: Utagawa Toyokuni III
National Theatre collection (NA0075269000)
Grieving the death of Ichikawa Ebizo V (Ichikawa Danjuro VII), actors, people connected with the theatre, artists, and even animals from plays are in tears
National Theatre collection (NA0058194000)
Actors who died at almost the same time set off for Paradise, while stars who died previously are in the world above the sky
National Theatre collection (NA0043781000)
The faces of the toys lined up in the front of the toy shop resemble the faces of actors
Artist: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
National Theatre collection (NA071100)