Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III)

1786-1865

Actors Ichikawa Danjuro VIII as Natsume Shirosaburo, Bando Shuka I as Omatsu, and Ichikawa Kuzo II in an unread role

signed Toyokuni ga within the artist's Toshidama cartouche, with censors' seals Murata and Kinugasa, and publisher's seal Sho of Hayashiya Shogoro, ca. 9th lunar month of 1851

oban tate-e triptych 14 1/8 by 29 1/8 in., 35.8 by 74 cm

In the center and right sheets are the actors Bando Shuka I (1813-1855) in the role of Omatsu and Ichikawa Danjuro VIII (1823-1854) in the role of her husband, the samurai Natsume Shirosaburo, from the play New Edition of the Thieves Crossing Over (Shinpan koshi no shiranami), staged at the Ichimura theater in Edo in the 9th lunar month of 1851. The pair were two of the most popular celebrities of the mid-19th century, and often performed together as spouses or lovers. Tragically, they died within months of one another between 1854 and 1855. In the left sheet, the actor Ichikawa Kuzo II (Ichikawa Danzo VI, 1800-1871) is in an unread role below an unidentified actor.

price: $700