Men of Ready Money with True Labels Attached,
Kuniyoshi Fashion
(Kuniyoshi moyô shôfuda tsuketari
genkin otoko, 国芳もよう正札附現金男)
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 (幡随長兵衛) Poet: Harunoya Kôichi Robinson:
S40.1 |
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Another state of the above
design |
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Bust portrait:
Danshichi Kurobei (團七九郎兵衛) 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 (五尺染五郎) playing a shakuhachi (bamboo flute) Poet: Umeya Robinson:
S40.3 |
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Another state of the above
design |
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Bust portrait:
Nozarashi Gosuke (野晒五助) 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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Another state of the above
design |
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Bust portrait:
The sumô wrestler Nuregami Chôgorô (濡髪蝶五郎) holding a pipe Poet: Rôshô Robinson:
S40.5 |
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Bust portrait:
Shirai Gompachi (白井権八) 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 (寺西感心) holding an open fan Poet: Gosônoya of Ise Robinson:
S40.7 |
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Another state of the above
design |
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Bust portrait:
Tôken Gombei (唐犬権兵衛) 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 (腕 喜三郎) 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 privately published supplement.
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