Reproduction of the circa 1760 woodblock print titled "Two Women Dancing Sanbasō" by Torii Kiyomitsu.
Artwork Details
Medium
Paper, Ink
Made/Created
Artist Information
Artist
Torii Kiyomitsu
Attribution
After
Notes
Reproduction of the original 18th c. work
Interpretative Labels
Label
The Sanbasō is a ritualistic dance usually performed before kabuki plays to encourage prosperity and longevity. Two separate sections of the dance are portrayed here as if they occur simultaneously. First, an actor removes their mask and places it in a box like the one depicted in the center of the print. Later in the performance, another actor dances with a stick of bells representing grains of rice, seen here in the hand of the figure on the right. By displaying two distinct parts of the dance together, Kiyomitsu trades an accurate scene for a fuller representation of the Sanbasō as a whole.
