Artwork

Nakamura Utaemon IV as Karaki Masaemon (From the series A Tale of Valor at Iga Pass)

Nakamura Utaemon IV as Karaki Masaemon (From the series A Tale of Valor at Iga Pass) is a print by the Romanticist artist Gosōtei Hirosada 五粽亭広貞. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 1976.65.a
Credit line: Edward L. Whittemore Fund

About this work

Overview

Gosōtei Hirosada’s woodblock print, dating from around 1850, portrays the celebrated kabuki actor Nakamura Utaemon IV in the role of Karaki Masaemon. It forms part of the series titled A Tale of Valor at Iga Pass and is presently in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The image captures the actor in a deep‑blue kimono, his gaze directed downward as he holds a round object bearing Japanese characters. The prop, likely a ceremonial scroll or fan, emphasizes the dramatic posture associated with the heroic figure of Karaki Masaemon, a character from a popular historical narrative.

Technique & Style

Executed in the ukiyo‑e tradition, the print combines bold line work with flat areas of saturated color, typical of mid‑nineteenth‑century Edo‑period commercial prints. Hirosada’s handling of the textile folds and the patterned background wall demonstrates a refined control of woodblock carving and color registration.

History & Provenance

Created during the late Edo period, the print circulated as part of a multi‑sheet series that celebrated famous theatrical performances. It entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection through a mid‑20th‑century acquisition of Japanese prints, where it has been catalogued as an example of Hirosada’s portraiture of leading actors.

Context

The series depicts scenes from the legendary Iga Pass episode, a story of samurai bravery that enjoyed widespread popularity on the kabuki stage. Prints such as this served both as promotional material for the theater and as collectible souvenirs for fans of the actors and the narratives they performed.