Untitled series of actors’ busts

Publisher: Fujioka-ya Hikotarô

1840

In this series of prints, bust portraits of actors in character are portrayed against a background of solid color that darkens at the top of the sheet. Above each actor’s heads is a small image of an object associated with the character and a cartouche containing a poem. Although the poem-containing cartouches vary in shape, they each have the same wave-like pattern of color on an unpigmented background. This series is not listed in Kuniyoshi by Basil William Robinson (Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1961). The prints are each about 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size known as ôban.

	Ichikawa Ebizô V (Ichikawa Danjûrô VII) as the pirate Kezori Kuemon in the kabuki play Koi minata Hakata no hitouchi (Love at Sea). He appears self-confident in a costume incorporating both Japanese and European elements. The poem translates: Kuemon’s speech on the revolving stage rings sinister while making a good appearance
	At first glance, this print appears the same as the one above, but the poem in the cartouche bordered by red coral is entirely different. Image courtesy of Richard Illing
	This is a preparatory drawing for the above two prints
	Actors Nakamura Kanemon I and Bandô Katsujirô (as small child)
	Actor Bandô Shûka I (Bandô Mitsugorô V)
	Actor Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Azuma no Yoshirô in the kabuki play ‘Go-hiiki Yakko no Konoshita’ performed at Ichimura-za in the eighth month of 1840. The other actors in this production were Nakamura Utaemon IV as Matsunaga Taizen, Seki Sanjuro III as Ranmaru, Iwai Shijaku I as Princess Yuki-hime and Nakamura Utaemon IV as Naniwa no Jirosaku.
	Actor Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Oda Harunaga in the kabuki play ‘Gosho ogi masago no shiranami’ performed at the Ichimura Theater in the second month of 1839
	Actor Nakamura Utaemon IV as Ôboshi Yuranosuke, the leader of the 47 ronin, in the kabuki play ‘Chuko gishi no Yurai’ performed at the Nakamura Theater in the seventh month of 1839
	Actor Sawamura Tosshô I
	Actor Seki Sanjûrô II as Konishi
	Actor Arashi Kichisaburô III as Sato Masakiyo in the kabuki play ‘Hachijin Shugo no Honjô’

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