The Shop of the Actor Sanogawa Ichimatsu I
Artist/Culture
Ishikawa Toyonobu 石川 豊信
(Japanese, 1711–1785)
Dateabout 1745
MediumColor woodblock print in red and green (benizuri-e)
DimensionsHorizontal ōban; 31.1 x 43.5 cm (12 1/4 x 17 1/8 in.)
ClassificationsPrints
MarkingsPublisher: Hanmoto (publisher) and seal of Urokogata-ya in a rectangular cartouche.
Credit LineJohn Chandler Bancroft Collection
Object number1901.1176
DescriptionHorizontal ōbanLabel TextThis print depicts the shop of the actor Sanogawa Ichimatsu I (1722-62) in Kobiki-cho, for the sale of drugs, hair oil and cosmetics. In the 18th century, many of the leading actors supplemented their professional incomes by shop keeping. Ichimatsu's stage mon is repeated five times upon the curtain across the front of his shop, and the curtain has the checkered so-called Ichimatsu- pattern. Sanogawa Ichimatsu is depicted in the middle of the scene, wearing a kimono with the checkered pattern which he made so popular on and off stage. Two men, probably customers are seated behind Ichimatsu in front of a plaque announcing some of the wares for sale: On hamigaki kusuri (tooth powder medicine). On a standing screen Ichimatsu is pictured doing the spear dance and the inscription reads On kogu shinajina (varieties of incense). Strings of coins lie on the floor in front of an open cupboard holding covered jars, boxes and actors' wigs on stands. A large mirror rests in a box at the right. One of the customers in front of the shop reaches up to receive a packet from Ichimatsu.
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