$500–$4,000. Common subjects: $500–$1,500. Key value factors: As an early sosaku-hanga pioneer, Kawakami's prints have historical significance. His distinctive graphic style is collected.
"Theatre at Asakusa" (#69) depicts the entertainment district of Asakusa in old Tokyo — the neighborhood that housed a dense cluster of theatres, cinema halls, street performers, and popular entertainment that made it the most vibrant public space in the city. Kawakami's interest in Tokyo's entertainment culture reflects his broader engagement with the visual richness of modern Japan: the advertising posters, the crowds, the variety of theatrical forms from rakugo storytelling to Western-style revues. His simplified compositional style captures the energy of Asakusa without losing its warmth.
Woodblock print
1928
Color lithograph
1930
Color lithograph
1948
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
#69 Theatre at Asakusa was created by Sumio Kawakami (川上澄生).
#69 Theatre at Asakusa depicts urban scenes, temples & shrines, and kabuki, set at Asakusa.
