Utagawa Fusatane. Nakamura Shikan IV as Ōtaku Tarō and Suketakaya Takasuke IV as Princess Takiyasha, from the series 'Mitate kyōgen tsukushi' / Fan print, 1882.

Artist

Utagawa Fusatane [歌川房種] (Japanese, fl. 1854–1889)

Character/Sitter

Suketakaya Takasuke IV [助高屋高助; Sawamura Tosshō II; Sawamura Genpei II; Sawamura Sōjūrō VI; Sawamura Tosshi VI] (Japanese, actor, 1838–1886)

Engraver/Block Cutter

Wada Yūjirō [和田勇次郎; seal: hori Yū, 彫勇] (Japanese, block carver, fl. mid-19th century)

Publisher

Unknown

Accession Number: SVJP-0389.2023

Category: Pictures

Artist: [画工] (Gakō): Murai Seima [村井静馬], address: Honjo-Sotodechō, 18 [本所外手丁十八番地], a.k.a. Utagawa Fusatane [歌川房種] (Japanese, fl. 1854 – 1889)

Signed: Ōsai Fusatane Hitsu [桜斎房種筆] in a cartouche with a red round stamp

Block carver: Wada Yūjirō (和田勇次郎), seal: 彫勇 (Hori Yū), Friese 2009, № 225

Publisher: Kawaraski Sotokichi [河原崎外吉]

Round Nengō Seal: Year of the Ox, Meiji 15 (1882)

Media: Uchiwa-e (団扇絵), color woodblock print, 253 x 260 mm

Actors and Roles:

Actor: Nakamura Shikan IV (中村芝翫)
- Role: Ōtaku Tarō (大屋太郎)
Actor: Suketakaya Takasuke IV (助高屋高助)
- Role: Princess Takiyasha (滝夜叉姫)

Series: A collection of imagined kyōgen (Mitate kyōgen tsukushi, 見立狂言盡)

Nakamura Shikan IV, as Ōtaku Tarō, wears a richly decorated kimono with floral patterns and grips a sword. Suketakaya Takasuke, as Princess Takiyasha, appears in a layered kimono with cloud motifs, her hair adorned with multiple ornaments. The actors are depicted in imagined roles.

Iwai Hanshirō VIII as Princess Tsuruhime, Onoe Kikugorō V as Ushiwakamaru

Onoe Kikugorō V as Princess Wakana, Ichikawa Sadanji I as Toriyama Shusaku

Iwai Hanshirō VIII as Tamagohime, Ichikawa Danjurō IX as Jiraiya

Here is Kunisada's print from 08/1856, featuring the same characters: The Syllable Ma（ま）as in Masakado (まさかど): Iwai Kumesaburō III (岩井粂三郎) as Takiyasha-hime (瀧夜叉姫) and Nakamura Fukusuke I (初代中村福助ヵ) as Ōtaku Tarō (大屋太郎) from the series Seven Calligraphic Models for Each Character in the Kana Syllabary (Seisho nanatsu iroha - 清書七伊呂波) – from Lyon Collection.

Additional Information

Collection	Fan print (Uchiwa-e) [団扇絵] , Japanese prints and drawings
Type / Purpose	Fan , Woodblock print
Period	19 AD , Late 19th century , Meiji era [明治] (1868–1912)
Country	Japan
Media/Technique	Ink and color on paper , Woodblock print (nishiki-e)
Size	Aiban yoko-e uchiwa-e , Fan print. Uchiwa-e
Subject	Actor print , Actors , Fan , Fan print , Kabuki , Kabuki actors , Meiji Period (1868 – 1912) , Mitate , Princess Takiyasha [滝夜叉姫] , Ōtaku Tarō [大屋太郎]
Series	A collection of imagined kyōgen (Mitate kyōgen tsukushi, 見立狂言盡)
Creation / Publishing year	1882 , Meiji 15
Genre	Actor Prints (Yakusha-e, 役者絵)
Acquisition year	2023