Artist: Utagawa Kuniyoshi [歌川国芳] (Japanese, 1797–1861)
Signed: 一勇斎国芳画 (Ichiyūsai Kuniyoshi ga)
Publisher: Iseya Sōemon [伊勢屋惣右衛門] (Japanese, 1776–1862); Seal: 上 (ue) under double roof, Marks 02-041 | 156a
Date: The Year of the Tiger (寅) — 1842 (Tenpō 13)
Media: Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper; uchiwa-e (fan print)
Series: A collection of popular masks (Ryūkō menzukushi, 流行面づくし)

Two cut-off fan prints (uchiwa-e):

Fan 1: Date–Censor Seal: 寅改 (tora, aratame); size: 197 x 288 mm

Clockwise from top left (title 流行面徒くし):

1. Daitengu (大天狗, great tengu) — Ōtani Hiroemon V (大谷 廣右衛門, 1804–1855), a.k.a. Ōtani Mansaku II, Ōtani Daisaku, Ōtani Manroku

2. Momotarō (もも太郎, peach-born folk hero) — Ichikawa Danjūrō VIII (市川団十郎, 1823–1854), a.k.a. Ichikawa Ebizō VI, Ichikawa Shinnosuke II

3. Kotengu (小天狗, small tengu) — Seki Sanjūrō III (関 三十郎, 1805–1870), a.k.a. Ichikawa Yaozō V, Ichikawa Datejūrō, Ichikawa Dankichi I

4. Kitsune (きつね, fox spirit) — Matsumoto Kōshirō VI (松本 幸四郎, 1812–1849), a.k.a. Matsumoto Kinshō I, Ichikawa Komazō V, Matsumoto Kinshi

5. Yase otoko (やせ男, slender man) — Ichimura Uzaemon XII (市村 宇左衛門, 1812–1851), a.k.a. Ichimura Takenojō V, Ichimura Kamenosuke, Ichimura Toyomatsu

6. Shōjō (しやうじやう, red-haired sake spirit) — Sawamura Sōjūrō V (沢村 宗十郎, 1802–1853), a.k.a. Suketakaya Takasuke III, Sawamura Chōjūrō V, Sawamura Tosshō I, Sawamura Gennosuke II, Sawamura Genpei I

7. Ebisu (ゑひす, god of fortune) — Nakamura Utaemon IV (中村 歌右衛門, 1796–1852), a.k.a. Nakamura Shikan II, Nakamura Tsurusuke I, Nakamura Tōtarō

Fan 2: Date-Censor Seal: 寅極 (tora, kiwame); size: 197 x 290 mm

Clockwise from top left (title 流行面づくし):

1. Kijo (鬼女, female demon) — Iwai Tojaku (岩井杜若, 1776-1847), a.k.a. Iwai Hanshirō V, Iwai Kumesaburō I

2. Kintarō (金太郎, red-cheeked boy hero) — Ichikawa Kuzō II (市川 九蔵, 1800–1871), a.k.a. Ichikawa Danzō VI, Ichikawa Hakuzō I, Ichikawa Momotarō I, Ichikawa Sanzō I, Ichikawa Teruyo I

3. Gedō (けとう, heretic or “jerk”)  — Nakamura Bungorō II (中村 文五郎, 1800–1862), a.k.a. Nakayama Hyakuzō I

4. Otafuku (おたふく, mask of good fortune) – Onoe Tamizō II (尾上 多見蔵, 1799–1886), a.k.a. Ōkawa Hachizō, Nakamura Waichi, Segawa Waichi

5. Ryūjin (龍神, dragon god) — Ichikawa Ebizō V (市川 海老蔵, 1791–1859), a.k.a. Ichikawa Danjūrō VII, Ichikawa Hakuen II, Ichikawa Shinnosuke I

6. Onna (をんな, woman) — Iwai Shijaku I (岩井 紫若, 1804–1845) a.k.a. Iwai Hanshirō VII, Iwai Matsunosuke I, Iwai Komurasaki I

7. Okina (おきな, old man) — Osagawa Tsuneyo IV (長谷川 常世, before 1816 – after 1850), a.k.a. Yamashina Jinkichi III, Yamashina Takegorō

Actor and mask identification with the help of the Kuniyoshi Project. Special thanks to Horst Graebner of the Kunisada Project.

These prints may be attributed to the genre of Mitate yakusha-e uchiwa-e (Fan print parodies of actors)

Provenance: Nelkin Collection (Ruth Nelkin, 1927–2022)