Kohada Kohaiji Mitate Nyōbō Asaka Iwai Shijaku II (Ghost of Kobata Kohaiji)

Shunbaisai Hokuei, artist

active circa 1824–1837

Kohada Kohaiji Mitate Nyōbō Asaka Iwai Shijaku II (Ghost of Kobata Kohaiji), circa 1831, Edo period (1600–1868)

Portfolio/Series title: Hyaku Monogatari (100 Ghost Stories)

Where object was made: Japan

Material/technique: color woodcut

Dimensions:
Sheet/Paper Dimensions (Height x Width): 377.82 x 254 mm
Sheet/Paper Dimensions (Height x Width): 14 7/8 x 10 in
Mat Dimensions (Height x Width): 19 x 14 in

Credit line: Gift of H. Lee Turner

Accession number: 1968.0001.162

Not on display

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Images

Label texts

Salina Art Center: Shattering the Void: Realms of Meaning in East Asian Art

For his version of Kohada Koheiji, Hokuei depicts the onnagata (female impersonator) Iwai Shijaku II as the wife of Koheiji. She holds a Buddhist invocation to protect herself from the ghost. Hokuei adapted Hokusai's designs in order to ensure the success of his prints. By adding the figure of the popular actor, who never played that role, Hokuei created a mitate or fictitious representation.

Archive Label:
For his version of Kohada Koheiji, Hokuei included the onnagata (female impersonator) actor Iwai Shijaku I as the wife of Koheiji. She holds a Buddhist invocation to protect herself from the ghost. Hokuei adapted Hokusai's designs in order to ensure the success of his prints. By adding the figure of the popular actor, who never played that role, Hokuei created a mitate or fictitious representation.