Sawamura Tosshō II (1838–86), from the series Mirror of Photographs Backstage (Shashin gakuya kagami - Sawamura Tosshō nisei)
Toyohara Kunichika Japanese
Not on view
Kunichika, a pupil of Utagawa Kunisada, produced a large number of actor prints in his early career; later, during the Meiji period, he popularized the triptych format.
This print portrays the handsome actor Sawamura Gennosuke III (1804–1863) as reflected in a mirror in his room backstage. Gennosuke wears a cotton kimono and assumes a relaxed pose, holding a teacup from which steam rises and wiping his neck with a towel. Containers of makeup and tools for applying it appear below and beside the mirror.
This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.
