Utagawa Kuniyoshi. Ise Ondo Dancers with Folding Fans on a Terrace / Fan print, 1854.

Artist: Utagawa Kuniyoshi [歌川 國芳] (Japanese, 1798 – 1861)

Signature: Kuniyoshi ga [国芳画] with a Yoshi Kiri seal

Publisher: Ibaya Senzaburō [伊場屋仙三郎] (Japanese, c. 1815 – 1869)

Date seal: (寅西) Year of the Tiger plus (改) Aratame — Ansei 1 (1854), 4th month

Media: Aiban yoko-e uchiwa-e (団扇絵), color woodblock print, 229 x 289 mm

Description by Kunisada Project: Two Ise Ondo dancers in identical costumes on a terrace with folding fans.

The print depicts two Ise Ondo dancers performing on a terrace, wearing matching costumes and holding folding fans (扇子, sensu). Their layered kimonos are grey, red, and black, featuring a wave motif (seigaiha, 青海波) on the black fabric and large, bold kanji characters on the grey fabric—静 (shizu, “calm, quiet”) and 連 (ren, “group, association, troupe”). Their obi (sashes) are red, secured with a yellow obi-jime (cord). They dance with open folding fans decorated with yellow clouds and Genji-mon (源氏紋).

Their distinctive costume elements and synchronized movement identify them as Ise Ondo performers, a dance tradition rooted in festival celebrations and kabuki adaptations. The kanji 静 (shizu) references Shizuka Gozen (静御前), a legendary shirabyōshi dancer linked to the Minamoto clan, further reinforcing the connection to classical dance heritage. The dancers’ detailed hair ornaments (kanzashi, 簪) and layered clothing emphasize their elegance and status as skilled performers. The background transitions from green at the bottom to deep blue at the top, with three large paper lanterns hanging above, enhancing the festive setting.

Reference: [LIB-3466.2025] Fan Pictures by Kuniyoshi: Cats, Kabuki Actors, and Girls (in Japanese). — Tokyo: Ōta Memorial Museum of Art, 2012; № 208. 踊り (Odori, Dance). Ansei 1 (1854), 4th month. Publisher: Ibayakyū Senjirō. The print depicts two women in identical outfits adorned with the character for “quiet” (静, shizu) — possibly referencing the Two Shizuka (二人静, Ninin Shizuka) dance from kabuki or nō theatre. Though the figures are nearly identical, subtle differences in hair ornaments can be observed. While the exact identity of the scene remains uncertain, it clearly represents a paired female dance, possibly inspired by traditional songs or performances.