Unknown Theaters

UNKNOWN THEATER SCENES

c. 1887-1888

The New Play

Print Date: 1887 or 1888
Artist: Mortimer Menpes
Medium: Etching and drypoint
Image courtesy of Koriyama City Museum of Art

Note: This etching shows a crowd of people entering a theatre in Osaka.

SPRING 1898

Appendix Sheet to Volume 1
[Nô Stage Illustration] Nôbutai no Zu (能舞臺の図)

Play: ?
Print Date: Spring 1898
Artist: Tsukioka Kôgyo (月岡耕漁)
Series: [Picture of Noh Plays] Nôgaku Zue (能楽図絵) [#2]
Image courtesy of the University of Pittsburgh

1900

[A Theatre Teashouse aka In Front of a Theater in Tokyo]
Ein Theater-Theehaus (aka Vor dem Theater in Tokio)

Print Date: 1900
Artist: Emil Orlik
Medium: Color lithograph
Series: Plate 4 of the Aus Japan portfolio
Personal Collection (#48/50)

[Japanese Magician on the Stage]
Taschenspieler (Japanischer Zauberer auf der Buhne)

Print Date: 1900
Artist: Emil Orlik
Personal Collection

JUNE 1909

[Theater Viewing] Migeki (觀劇)

Artist: Hirafuku Hyakusui (平福百穗)
Medium: Lithograph
Published: Frontispiece to Engei Gahô (演藝畫報),
Vol. 3, No. 6 (June 1, 1909)
Image courtesy of the University of California

JULY 1909

[Theatergoer's Favorite Items]
Shibai Kyaku no Atari Shina (芝居客の當品)
[Performing Arts Caricatures] Engei Fûshiga (演藝諷刺畫)

Artist: Kitazawa Rakuten (北澤樂天)
Medium: Lithograph
Published: Illustration to Engei Gahô (演藝畫報),
Vol. 3, No. 8 (July 1, 1909)
Image courtesy of the University of California

AUGUST 1909

[Shipboard Theater] Fune Shibai (船芝居)
[Performing Arts Caricatures] Engei Fûshiga (演藝諷刺畫)

Artist: Kitazawa Rakuten (北澤樂天)
Medium: Lithograph
Published: Illustration to Engei Gahô (演藝畫報),
Vol. 3, No. 9 (Aug. 1, 1909)
Image courtesy of the University of California

NOVEMBER 1909

[Female Play] Jyo Shibai (女芝居)

Print Date: 11/10/09
Artist: Ishii Hakutei (石井柏亭)
Published in Hôsun (方寸), Vol. 3, No. 8 (November 10, 1909)
Medium: Lithograph
Personal Collection

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DECEMBER 1909

[The Colors of the Theater (Part 1)]
Shibai no Iro (Sono Ichi) (芝居のいろ～(其一))
[Boarding and Hand-to-Hand Combat]
Norikomi no Teuchi (乗込みの手打ち)

Artist: Odake Kokkan (尾竹国観; 尾竹國觀)
Medium: Lithograph
Published: Illustration to Engei Gahô (演藝畫報),
Vol. 3, No. 13 (Dec. 1, 1909)
Image courtesy of the University of California

JANUARY 1911

[The Colors of the Theater (Part 2) - Backstage]
Shibai no Iro ~ Kyaku Mawari (芝居のいろ (其二) - (客まわり))

Artist: Odake Kokkan (尾竹國觀)
Medium: Lithograph
Published: Frontispiece to Engei Gahô (演藝畫報),
Vol. 4, No. 1 (Jan. 1, 1910)
Image courtesy of the University of California

[The Mysterious Popularity of the Theater]
Shibai no Ninki ha Fushigi na Mono (芝居の人気は不思議なもの)

Artist: Kitazawa Rakuten (北澤樂天)
Medium: Lithograph
Published: Frontispiece to Engei Gahô (演藝畫報),
Vol. 4, No. 1 (Jan. 1, 1910)
Image courtesy of Cornell University

Note: A color version of this image is not available at this time.

FEBRUARY 1910

Maku a Hi (幕ぁひ)

Artist: Hayashi Ryokusui (林緑水)
Medium: Lithograph
Published: Frontispiece to Engei Gahô (演藝畫報),
Vol. 5, No. 2 (Feb. 1, 1911)
Image courtesy of the University of California

[The Colors of the Theater (Part 3)]
Shibai no Iro (Sono Ni) - Honzômi (芝居のいろ(其三) - (本蔵み))

Artist: Odake Kokkan (尾竹國觀)
Medium: Lithograph
Published: Frontispiece to Engei Gahô (演藝畫報),
Vol. 4, No. 2 (Feb. 1, 1910)
Image courtesy of the University of California

[Tokyo Theater Scene in 1910]
Meiji Shjûsan-nen no Tôkyô no Gekidan
(明治四十三年の東京の劇壇)

Artist: Kitazawa Rakuten (北澤樂天)
Medium: Lithograph
Published: Frontispiece to Engei Gahô (演藝畫報),
Vol. 4, No. 2 (Feb. 1, 1910)
Image courtesy of the University of California

MARCH 1910

[Impressions of the Stage] Butai no Inshô (舞臺の印象)

Artist: Natori Shunsen (名取春仙)
Medium: Lithograph
Published: Frontispiece to Engei Gahô (演藝畫報),
Vol. 4, No. 3 (Mar. 1, 1910)
Personal Collection

[The Colors of the Theater (Part 4) - Rehearsal of Stage Performance]
Shibai no Iro (Sono Shi) - Shita Keiko (芝居のいろ(其四) - (下稽古))

Artist: Odake Kokkan (尾竹國觀)
Medium: Lithograph
Published: Frontispiece to Engei Gahô (演藝畫報),
Vol. 4, No. 3 (Mar. 1, 1910)
Personal Collection

FEBRUARY 1911

APRIL 1912

[The Second Floor of the Teahouse] Chaya no Ni-Kai (茶屋の二階)

Artist: Kaburagi Kiyokata (鏑木清方)
Medium: Woodblock print
Published: Frontispiece to Engei Kurabu (演芸倶楽部),
Vol. 1, No. 1 (Apr. 1, 1912)
Image courtesy of the Art Research Center

SEPTEMBER 1912

[Moon on the Stage] Butai no Tsuki (舞臺の月)

Artist: Nakazawa Hiromitsu (中澤弘光)
Medium: Machine printed lithograph
Published: Cover to Engei Kurabu (演芸倶楽部),
Vol. 1, No. 6 (Sept. 1, 1912)
Image courtesy of the Art Research Center

c. 1912-1913

Watching the Play

Print Date: 1912 or 1913
Artist: Mortimer Menpes
Medium: Drypoint
Personal Collection

Note: Based on a contemporary inscription on one impression, the location is likely Kyoto.

MAY 1914

[Intermission] Makuahi (幕あひ)

Artist: Yamanaka Kodô (山中古洞)
Medium: Machine printed lithograph
Published: Frontispiece to Engei Kurabu (演芸倶楽部),
Vol. 3, No. 5 (May 1, 1914)
Image courtesy of the Art Research Center

UNKNOWN MONTH 1914

Between The Acts

Print Date: 1914
Artist: Kaburagi Kiyokata (鏑木清方)
*Courtesy of the National Museum of Asian Art

c. 1915-1916

Entrance to the Theatre

Print Date: 1915 or 1916
Artist: Mortimer Menpes
Medium: Drypoint
Image courtesy of the Art Gallery of South Australia

A Little Audience

Print Date: 1915 or 1916
Artist: Mortimer Menpes
Medium: Etching and drypoint

JANUARY 1918

Nezumi Kei (鼠木戶)

Play: ?
Print Date: 01/01/18
Artist: Yamamura Kôka (山村耕花)
Medium: Machine printed lithograph
Published: Frontispiece to Shin Engei (新演藝),
Vol. 3, No. 1 (Jan. 1, 1918)
Image courtesy of Columbia University

Kenbutsu (見物)

Play: ?
Print Date: 01/01/18
Artist: Yamamura Kôka (山村耕花)
Medium: Machine printed lithograph
Published: Frontispiece to Shin Engei (新演藝),
Vol. 3, No. 1 (Jan. 1, 1918)
Image courtesy of Columbia University

Kaomise (顏見世)

Print Date: 01/01/18
Artist: Yamamura Kôka (山村耕花)
Medium: Machine printed lithograph
Published: Frontispiece to Shin Engei (新演藝),
Vol. 3, No. 1 (Jan. 1, 1918)
Image courtesy of Columbia University

?

Play: ?
Print Date: 01/01/18
Artist: ?
Medium: Machine printed lithograph
Published: Frontispiece to Shin Engei (新演藝),
Vol. 3, No. 1 (Jan. 1, 1918)
Image courtesy of Columbia University

? as ?

Play: ?
Performance Place: ?
Performance Date: ?
Print Date: 01/01/18
Artist: ?
Medium: Machine printed lithograph
Published: Frontispiece to Shin Engei (新演藝),
Vol. 3, No. 1 (Jan. 1, 1918)
Image courtesy of Columbia University

Renchû (連中)

Play: ?
Print Date: 01/01/18
Artist: ?
Medium: Machine printed lithograph
Published: Frontispiece to Shin Engei (新演藝),
Vol. 3, No. 1 (Jan. 1, 1918)
Image courtesy of Columbia University

?

Play: ?
Performance Place: ?
Performance Date: ?
Print Date: 01/01/18
Artist: ?
Medium: Machine printed lithograph
Published: Frontispiece to Shin Engei (新演藝),
Vol. 3, No. 1 (Jan. 1, 1918)
Image courtesy of Columbia University

1920

[Theater Going] Kangeki (観劇)

Performance Place: ?
Performance Date: 1920?
Print Date: 07/1920
Artist: Oda Kazuma (織田一磨)
Series: Sekiban yoru saku hana to hanga no kai-ten (Shiseidô)
( 夜咲く花と版画の会展（資生堂）)
Medium: Stone lithograph
Image Courtesy of the University of Michigan Museum of Art

1924

[People Watching a Farce] Chaban Miru Hitotachi (茶番見ル人達)

Play: ?
Performance Place: ?
Performance Date: ?
Print Date: 1924
Artist: ?
Image courtesy of Hanga-do.com

Note: The artist signed the print "正" (Masa?)

1925

Makuai [Interval] (幕間)

Print Date: 05/1925
Artist: Itô Shinsui (伊東深水)
*Image courtesy of the Minneapolis Institute of Art

Note: Although this appears to be a conventional bijin
print, the title indicates that the woman is attending a
theatrical performance. Moreover, the publisher
subsequently issued a May 1926 print by Kawase Hasui
entitled "Kabuki-za (歌舞伎座)" to be a companion
print to this design.

JUNE 1929

Untitled

Print Date: 06/20/29
Artist: Kanno Risuke (菅野利助)
Published in Satoporo (さとぽろ), No. 28

UNKNOWN MONTH 1929

[One Time at the Theatre]
Gekijô no Arutoki (劇場ノ或ル時)

Print Date: 1929
Artist: Daidô Tôru (大道寺達)
Published in Katana (刀), No. 4

JANUARY 1933

[Stage Concept] Kan'nen-tekina Butai (観念的な舞臺)

Artist: Ono Tadashige (小野忠重)
Published in Shin Hanga (新版画), Vol. 7
(January 1, 1933)
Image courtesy of The Museum of Modern Art,
Kamakura & Hayama

[Ballet Stage Composition] Barê Butai Komupojishon
(バレー舞臺コムポジシヨン)

Artist: Yoshihara Masamichi (吉原正道)
Published in Shin Hanga (新版画), Vol. 7
(January 1, 1933)
Image courtesy of The Museum of Modern Art,
Kamakura & Hayama

JULY 1933

[Festival Night] Matsuri no Yoru (祭の夜)

Play: ?
Publication: Yukari (ゆうかり), 第 15 - 16 号
Date: 07/05/33
Artist: Ogawa Tatsuhiko (小川龍彦)

Note: Although the image is in black and white, the print is in color.

UNKNOWN MONTH 1933

[Theatre] Gekijô (劇場)

Artist: Ono Tadashige (小野忠重)
Image courtesy Hanga-do.com

1934

[A Stage] Aru Butai (或る舞台)

Artist: Suzuki Takeo (鈴木健夫)
Published in Shin Hanga (新版画), Vol. 12 (April 10, 1934)
Image courtesy of Artelino.com

1958

[Meiji Era Vaudeville] Meiji Jidai no Yose (明治時代の寄席)

Date: 1958
Artist: Itô Seiu (伊藤晴雨)
Image courtesy of https://www.edohakuarchives.jp

1964

Stage

Print Date: 1964 (ed. 50)
Artist: Tajima Hiroyuki (田嶋宏行)
*Image courtesy of the National Museum of Asian Art

UNKNOWN DATES

[Theater] Shibai (芝居)

Date: ?
Artist: Ikeda Terukata (池田輝方)
Image courtesy of Artelino.com

        [Theatre] Yose (寄席)

        Print Date: ?I
        Artist: Ikezumi Kiyoshi (生悦住喜由)
        Image courtesy of Artelino.com

    [Performance] Ensô (演奏)

    Print Date: ?
``Artist: Kawanishi Hide (川西英)

    Note: It is unclear if this print was issued in color or not.

[Audience and Stage]

Publication Date: ?
Artist: Kawanishi Hide (川西英)
Image courtesy of the Saru Gallery

[Red Stage] Akai Butai ( 赤い舞台)

Date: ?
Artist: Saitô Shinichi (斎藤真一)
Medium: Lithograph
Image courtesy of Yamada Shoten

[Theater Scene]

Print Date: ?
Artist: Tomioka Eisen (富岡永洗)
Image courtesy of Artelino.com

Note: It is possible that this print was made prior to 1900.