Onnagata in Black Looking to Lower Left, Taishô period, circa 1920-1922
- Medium:
- Woodblock print
- Format:
- Oban
- Publisher:
- Watanabe Shozaburo
- Source:
$2,000–$15,000. Common subjects: $2,000–$5,000. Key value factors: Yamamura's Art Deco-influenced designs are particularly sought after. Kabuki actor prints and bold modern compositions command the highest prices.
Dating to the early 1920s, this [oban](/glossary/oban) woodblock print depicts an onnagata (male actor in a female role) wearing a black kimono and gazing toward the lower left. The black costume carries specific theatrical meaning in kabuki, often signifying mourning, widowhood, or a woman of mature dignity. The onnagata's leftward-downward gaze suggests contemplation or sorrow, creating a mood of quiet melancholy. Toyonari renders the black fabric as a dominant visual mass that anchors the composition, with the actor's white-painted face and neck emerging from the dark costume like a pale moon. The contrast between the large black area and the delicate facial features is a compositional strategy that draws the eye insistently to the performer's expression. The print captures the stillness that is one of kabuki's most powerful theatrical tools.
1919
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
Woodblock print
1920
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper with mica
1920
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper with nikawa and embossing
歌舞伎
Woodblock print
1955
Woodblock print
1928
Color lithograph
1930
Color lithograph
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Onnagata in Black Looking to Lower Left, Taishô period, circa 1920-1922 was created by Yamamura Toyonari (山村豊成).
Onnagata in Black Looking to Lower Left, Taishô period, circa 1920-1922 was published by Watanabe Shozaburo.
Onnagata in Black Looking to Lower Left, Taishô period, circa 1920-1922 depicts kabuki and portraits.