Dressing Room Scenes at the Dotonbori Theatres in Osaka

Catalog note / 解説

This is the right-hand sheet of a triptych by Kunisada (1786-1864) depicting the interiors of the Kado-za and Naka-za kabuki theatres in the Dotonbori district of Osaka. A large group of kabuki actors (all kabuki actors are male) from Edo (present-day Tokyo) performed in Osaka in 1821 and 1822. Kunisada travelled to Osaka at the time and designed prints like this to be sold in Edo. This work is particularly valuable for the information it provides on backstage arrangements and the structures of Osaka theatres, which were relatively simple two-storey affairs, unlike the more elaborate buildings found in Edo. Materials: Woodblock print on paper