Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III)

1786-1865

Onoe Baiko III as Shizuka with Nakamura Utaemon IV as Genkuro

both sheets signed Gototei Kunisada ga, with censor's seal Kiwame, and publisher's seal Ezakiya (Ezakiya Kichibei of Tenjudo), ca. 1838

oban tate-e diptych 14 7/8 by 19 7/8 in., 37.7 by 50.6 cm

The onnagata Onoe Baiko III (1784-1849) is in the role of Yoshitsune's lover, Shizuka Gozen, playing opposite the actor Nakamura Utaemon IV (1796-1852) in the role of Yoshitsune's retainer, Genkuro, a shape-changing kitsune (fox-spirit), in the play, Hatsune no tabi ume no aiyado (a variation of the classic version: Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura) which was staged at the Nakamura Theater in the 11th lunar month of 1838.

References:
The Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) Project (kunisada.de), kabuki plays from 1838
Waseda University Theatre Museum, ref. nos. 002-0105 & 002-0106

(inv. no. 10-5371)

price: $900