Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III)

1786-1865

Azuma no Yoshiro
(Azuma no Yoshiro)

signed Toyokuni ga within the artist's Toshidama cartouche, publisher's seal Kichi, Ryogoku, Kagaya (Kagaya Kichibei of Seiseido), combined censor and date seal Tori-juichi, aratame (year of the cock [1861], 11th month, examined)

oban tate-e 14 3/8 by 9 7/8 in., 36.5 by 25 cm

The actor Kawarazaki Gonjuro I (Ichikawa Danjuro IX, 1838-1903) is in the role of Azuma no Yoshiro from the dance-drama finale Modori Kago Iro ni Aikata (A Harlot's Love in a Returning Palanquin) of the play Kiichi Hogen Sanryaku no Maki (Kiichi Hogen's Principles of Heaven, Earth, and Man Scroll), based on the Heike Monogatari (Tales from the Heike).

Reference:
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (www.mfa.org), from the Bigelow Collection, accesssion no. 11.40370

(inv. no. 10-4121)

price: Sold