Men of Ready Money with True Labels Attached,
Kuniyoshi Fashion
(Kuniyoshi moyô shôfuda tsuketari
genkin otoko)
Publisher: Iba-ya Kyûbei
1845
The
rather cumbersome title of this series of heroic bust portraits is derived from
a contemporary kabuki play ‘Shôfuda tsuki kongen
kusazuri’. The
backgrounds are a solid color with a short signed poem. The prints in this series are each about 14
by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size known as ôban.
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Bust portrait:
Banzui Chôbei Poet: Harunoya Kôichi Robinson:
S40.1 |
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Another
state of the above print. |
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Bust portrait:
Danshichi Kurobei pouring
a bucket of water over himself Poet: Hôshitei Robinson:
S40.2 Image courtesy of Richard Illing |
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Bust portrait:
Goshaku Somegorô playing
a shakuhachi
(bamboo flute) Poet: Umeya Robinson:
S40.3 NOTE: The
uneven coloration of the background is the result of oxidation of the ink. |
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Bust portrait:
Nozarashi Gosuke in a
robe of skulls made up of cats and carrying a long sword with a skull-like
wooden sandal attached Poet: Ryûkatei Tanekazu Robinson:
S40.4 |
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This is another state of
the above print. |
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Bust portrait:
The sumô wrestler Nuregami Chôgorô holding a pipe Poet: Rôshô Robinson:
S40.5 |
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Bust portrait:
Shirai Gompachi holding a
spotted scarf over his shoulders with a shakuhachi (bamboo flute)
tucked in the back of his girdle Poet: Ryûkatei Tanekazu Robinson:
S40.6 |
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Bust portrait:
Teranishi Kanshin holding
an open fan Poet: Gosônoya of Ise Robinson:
S40.7 |
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Bust portrait:
Tôken Gombei looking in a
mirror and wearing a kimono
decorated with scenes of hell Poet: Takaraya Masuo Robinson:
S40.8 |
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Bust portrait:
Ude Kisaburô with a grim
face and folded arms Poet: Kunoya Umeki Robinson:
S40.9 |
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Bust portrait:
Poet: Umeya Robinson:
S40.10 |
‘Robinson’ refers to listing in Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints by Basil William Robinson (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 1982) and its unpublished supplement.
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