1971.35
Shibaraku
Artist
Yoshitoshi Mori (Yoshitoshi)
(Tokyo, Japan, 1898 - 5/29/1992)
Title
Shibaraku
Creation Date
1970
Century
20th century
Dimensions
17 3/4 in. x 12 in. (45.08 cm. x 30.48 cm.)
Object Type
print
Creation Place
Asia, Japan
Medium and Support
color woodcut on paper
Credit Line
Museum Purchase
Copyright
This artwork may be under copyright. For further information, please consult the Museum’s
Copyright Terms and Conditions.
Accession Number
1971.35
Shibaraku translates literally as “a moment,” or “a little while.” In the context of this image, however, Yoshitoshi Mori is referring to the Shibaraku scene of the kabuki theatre, which was first developed in the late seventeenth century. In this specific, iconic scene, a hero comes to the rescue of a group of people threatened by an evil character. Over time, the spectacular makeup, grandiose costumes, and dramatic poses of the scene have come to represent the kabuki theatre itself. In Mori’s Shibaraku, the artist’s playful style and distinctive stencil technique are used to represent the actor at the climax of the drama, his hair and costume sweeping behind him to lend a sense of action to the print. Mori started working as a full-time printmaker in his sixties, often borrowing subjects from his past work with the Japanese folk art movement. Festivals, kabuki actors, artisans, and characters from historic literature were among his favored topics.
