Currently not on view
Iwai Kumesaburō III as Princess Wakana Raising a Large Spider through Incantation (Wakana-hime 若菜姫), from the series “Contest of Magic Scenes by Toyokuni” (Toyokuni kigō gijutsu kioi 豊国揮毫奇術競),
1861
Utagawa Kunisada 歌川国貞 (Utagawa Toyokuni III 三代歌川豊国), 1786–1865; born and died Tokyo, Japan
Published by Hiranoya Shinzō 平野屋新蔵
Published by Hiranoya Shinzō 平野屋新蔵
Japanese
Edo period, 1603–1868
2011-57
More Context
Didactics
Kunisada was prolific and extremely successful during his day, and he played a role in expanding the subject matter of Japanese prints. In the latter part of the Edo period, the supernatural and the macabre became important subjects. This scene is from a popular Kabuki play that shows the famous actor Iwai Kumesaburō III playing the female role of Princess Wakana. In her youth, the Princess’s family was annihilated in a feud. A spider rescued her and taught her magic, which she used to revenge her family’s death. She is shown holding a scroll that records spider spells, and in the background are spider webs.
Information
Title
Iwai Kumesaburō III as Princess Wakana Raising a Large Spider through Incantation (Wakana-hime 若菜姫), from the series “Contest of Magic Scenes by Toyokuni” (Toyokuni kigō gijutsu kioi 豊国揮毫奇術競)
Dates
1861
Maker
Medium
Woodblock print (ōban tate-e format); ink and color on paper
Dimensions
36.8 x 25.1 cm. (14 1/2 x 9 7/8 in.)
mat: 56 x 41.8 cm. (22 1/16 x 16 7/16 in.)
Credit Line
Museum purchase, Laura P. Hall Memorial Fund, selected for acquisition by students in ART 425: The Japanese Print
Object Number
2011-57
Place Made
Asia, Japan
Signatures
signed: Nanajunana-o (at the venerable age of seventy-seven) Toyokuni hitsu
Culture
Period
Techniques
–2011 Sebastian Izzard LLC Asian Art (New York, NY), sold to the Princeton University Art Museum, 2011.
