Yamashita Kyonosuke as Ono no Komachi
Edo period (1615–1868), 1768
Medium
Color woodblock print; hosoban
Dimensions
31 × 14.1 cm (12 1/4 × 5 9/16 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
22410
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
In this Kabuki actor print, Yamashita Kyōnosuke wears a robe strewn with cherry blossoms and carries a fan in one hand and a poem sheet in the other to represent Ono no Komachi, a famed ninth-century poet. The artist identified the Kabuki stage by showing rolled-up blinds above the figure. The poet’s name is written in small characters, while the actor’s name is written in larger characters.
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...