Actor Iwai Hanshirō V as a Blind Man

Artist/Culture Utagawa Toyokuni I 歌川豊国 (Japanese, 1769–1825)

Publisherpublished by Tsuruya Kinsuke 鶴屋金助 (Sōkakudō 双鶴堂) (Japanese)

Date1806, 2nd month

Mediumwoodblock print; ink and color on paper

DimensionsVertical ōban: 37.5 x 24.8 cm (14 3/4 x 9 3/4 in.)

ClassificationsPrints

Credit LineJohn Chandler Bancroft Collection

Terms

Japanese Print

Object number1901.789

Label TextDepicted here is one of the stages of a hayagawari dance. In the dance, a single kabuki actor—here, Iwai Hanshirō V (1776-1847) — goes through a series of quick costume changes during a performance. This theatrical trick, known as keren, entailed a variety of techniques such as removing upper layers of clothing, altering makeup, covering the shaved portions of their hair to assume a female role, or having stage assistants supply additional accessories. Prints such as this were intended to showcase Hanshirō V’s ability to channel the identity the character he embodies, in this case a blind man feeling his way forward with a walking stick. Hanshirō V remains recognizable, though, due to his distinct oval face, long straight nose, and signature impish smile. Originally, there were seven pictures in the series, indicating that Hanshirō was performing a nanabake, or “seven change dance.” It is possible that these prints were once part of a set of hayagawari-e (“quick change pictures”), and that they were connected, either by hinges or by being printed onto a single sheet, so the viewer’s eye could seamlessly follow the dance’s progression. The decorative paper edges and trimming suggest that they were once pasted into an album.

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