Harukoma Dance

Data

Harukoma Dance
Print   (Part of the set: Taisho era subscription prints)

Katsukawa Shunshō

1910s

00024-010
https://mokuhankan.com/collection/index.php?id_for_display=00024-010

Print is Public Domain; Photography is:   Creative Commons License

Description

In this print a dancer performs the Harukoma (hobbyhorse dance) in front of a large painted screen of Mt. Fuji. The Harukoma appeared in the play Godai Genji Mitsugi no Furisode, which may be the play we are seeing here. The dancer is an onnagata (male actor in a female role), as we can see from his forehead covering.

There is some light karazuri blind embossing to Mt. Fuji, and the hairline of the actor has been very carefully carved. Mt. Fuji is a symbol of good fortune, celebration, and the new year, and it is possible that the dragon on the actor's costume denotes the Year of the Dragon.

When we were researching this print we found many prints with similar backgrounds and layouts, but this was the closest. It seems probable that we are missing a print to the left of this one that completes the scene.

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