Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III)

1786-1865

Backstage: Ichikawa Ichizo III

signed Kio Toyokuni ga within Toshidama cartouche, with block carver's seal Yokokawa Hori Iwa, publisher's seal Kinkaido shi (Tsujiya Yasubei), combined censor and date seal, Inu-ichi, aratame (year of the Dog [1862], 1st month, examined), 1862

oban tate-e 14 1/2 by 10 in., 36.9 by 25.3 cm

The actor Ichikawa Ichizo III (1833-65) is seated before a bronze rectangular mirror in his backstage dressing room. He drapes a hand towel around his neck and turns to an attendant, unseen but for his hands, who holds a red garment decorated with a pattern of interlocked circles. Ichizo III was a promising actor who mostly specialized in roles known as jitsugotoshi- a righteous and clever man, although he also took on katakiyaku (villainous) and onnagata (female) roles as well. However he died in his early thirties before he could develop a more extensive repertoire.

References:
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, acquisition no. 00.449
Waseda University Theatre Museum, acquisition no. 006-0645

price: $900