Title : Agemaki and Sukeroku

Artist : Kitagawa Utamaro

Date : c.1800

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Source : Honolulu Museum of Art
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Description : One of Japan's most famous ukiyo-e artists, Utamaro is best known for his depiction of female figures. The artist would have considered Sukeroku to be excellent source material, given the play's abundance of female characters and immense popularity, though it had been almost ninety years since the play was first performed in 1713. In this print, Utamaro has given the viewer a depiction of Agemaki and Sukeroku in mid-scene. This print was made during the Kansei Era (1789-1801), which is considered by many to be the height of Utamaro's artistic career. Here, Sukeroku has accepted a pipe from Agemaki, a convention of pleasure quarter etiquette that the play's audience would instantly recognize as a sign of affection. It is interesting to note that though Sukeroku is wearing a headband, it is not the signature purple hachimaki for which he is known. (This could simply be a limitation of the colors used by the artist.) Though the print is not as colorful as many that appeared later in the Edo period, the artist's attention to detail can be seen the individual marks used to create each character's hair, as well as the thin lines used to detail clothing and other accessories. The careful contrast of colors makes the black tones appear exceptionally striking. The character's names are written in the upper left-hand corner of the work, and further down the side, the artist's signature and the censor's seal are clearly visible.

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