Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III)

1786-1865

Iwai Shijaku I as the geisha Kohina; Ichikawa Ebizo V in the role of Asahina Tobei; and Sawamura Tossho I as Kakogawa Heisuke

each sheet signed Gototei Kunisada ga, with censor's seal kiwame, and publisher's seal Sanoki (Sanoya Kihei), 1841

oban tate-e triptych 14 3/4 by 29 7/8 in., 37.6 by 76 cm

The actor Sawamura Tossho I (Suketakaya Takasuke III, 1802-1853) in the role of Kakogawa Heisuke kneels while pulling at a cord lassoed around his neck by Ichikawa Ebizo V (Danjuro, 1791-1859) in the role Asahina Tobei who stands while holding an unsheathed sword and the onnagata Iwai Shijaku I (Hanshiro VII, 1804-1845) in the role of the geisha Kohina crouches under an umbrella and covers one ear to block out the thunder accompanying the red bolts of lightning shooting from dark clouds looming above. The scene is from the drama Koi zumo yawaragi Soga performed at the Kawarazaki in the first month of 1841. Soga-themed plays were traditionally staged on the occasion of the New Year.

References:
The Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) Project, (kunisda.de), kabuki plays from 1841
Waseda University Theatre Museum, ref. no. 100-3667 (Iwai Shijaku II sheet only)
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, ref. 11.43424a-c

(inv. no. 10-5383)

price: $1,800