NHK's educational program "Ukiyo-e EDO-LIFE" features ukiyo-e prints linked to the story every week to help viewers enjoy the station's historical drama "UNBOUND (Berabou)" (General TV, Sundays at 8pm and other times) even more deeply. On November 14th, "The World of UNBOUND: Utamaro's True Face - The Thoughts Hidden in His Self-Portraits" will be broadcast on BS Premium 4K from 6pm and on NHK Educational TV from 11:50pm.
This time we will be looking at Kitagawa Utamaro's "Chushingura: The Eleventh Act (Part)," painted in 1795-96 (Kansei 7-8). The painting depicts a revelry in Yoshiwara, surrounded by a large number of courtesans and geisha, and the man in a good mood is Utamaro himself. In other words, this is a self-portrait of Utamaro.
At the time, it was rare for ukiyo-e artists to paint self-portraits, making this a rare piece. Looking closely, one can see the inscription, "Utamaro has depicted his own handsomeness." What kind of person was Utamaro to write such a thing? In fact, this painting is a parody of the raid scene from "Chushingura," a famous kabuki play. By deciphering the painting further, one may even be able to see Utamaro's hidden thoughts...
