The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of September 27, 2023

Sanjo Kantaro II in the Role of Urashima Taro

early 1700s

Kaigetsudō Ando 懐月堂 安度

(Japanese, c. 1671–1743)

Japan, Edo period

(1615-1868)

Hanging scroll, ink and color on paper

Painting only: 105.7 x 59.4 cm (41 5/8 x 23 3/8 in.); Including mounting: 189.2 x 64.7 cm (74 1/2 x 25 1/2 in.)

Dudley P. Allen Fund and various donors, by exchange 1961.41

Location

not on view

Description

Sanjo Kantaro II was a Kabuki actor who specialized in playing youths (wakashu) and female roles (onnagata). He is shown here in the role of Urashima Taro. He rescues a tortoise, and as a reward, the tortoise carries him to the undersea palace of the Dragon King. He believes he has spent but three days there with the Dragon King's daughter; however, when he returns to the shore, he finds 300 years have passed. The actor holds a fishing pole, indicating his occupation as a fisherman. The upper portion of the painting contains a 31-syllable waka poem.

Inscriptions

Inscription

Signed: Japanese painting for amusement, this was painted by Kaigetsudo (Nihon giga Kaigetsudo Ando kore [o] zu [su]) Sealed: Ando

Citations
Lee, Sherman E. Japanese Decorative Style. [Cleveland]: Cleveland Museum of Art, 1961. Mentioned and reproduced: p. 100; cat. no. 99 archive.org
The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1966. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1966. Reproduced: p. 284 archive.org
The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1969. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1969. Reproduced: p. 284 archive.org
The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1978. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1978. Reproduced: p. 384 archive.org
Exhibition history

Later Japanese Rotation (Gallery 113). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (February 18-June 8, 2004).

Main Asian Rotation (Gallery 236). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (January 13–November 16, 2015).

Japanese Decorative Style. The Cleveland Museum of Art (August 30-October 15, 1961); The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL (November 9-December 17, 1961).

Year in Review (1961). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (November 1-26, 1961).

Ukiyo-e Prints and Paintings: The Primitive Period. The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL (organizer) (November 4-December 26, 1971).

Portraiture: The Image of the Individual. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (November 22, 1983-January 22, 1984).

Visions of Japan: Prints and Paintings from Cleveland Collections. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (December 12, 2004-April 10, 2005).

Source URL: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1961.41