Utagawa Kunisada. Kabuki actors Seki Sanjūrō II as Nakano Tōbei L (top), Bandō Mitsugorō III as Miki Jūzaemon (left), and Matsumoto Kōshirō V as Akabori Mizuemon (right) / Fan print, 1817.

Artist

Utagawa Kunisada [歌川国貞; Utagawa Toyokuni III, 三代歌川豊国] (Japanese, 1786–1865)

Character/Sitter

Bandō Mitsugorō III [坂東三津五郎; Bandō Minosuke I; Morita Kanjirō II; Bandō Mitahachi I] (Japanese, actor, 1775–1831) Matsumoto Kōshirō V [五代目松本幸四郎; Ichikawa Komazō III; Ichikawa Sumizō I] (Japanese, actor, 1764–1838) Seki Sanjūrō II [関三十郎; Seki Utasuke I; Nakamura Utasuke; Arashi Sōtarō; Meijin Seki; Sekisan] (Japanese, actor, 1786–1839)

Publisher

To-chū [ト忠; Marks U335] (Japanese, publisher, unidentified, fl. mid-19th century) Unknown

Accession Number: SVJP-0418.2024

Category: Pictures

Artist: Utagawa Kunisada, a.k.a. Toyokuni III (Japanese, 1786 – 1865) [歌川国貞].

Publisher: Unidentified, Marks 01-033|U335a To-Chū [ト忠]

Date-aratame seal: Bunka 14 (1817).

Signed: Kunisada ga [国貞画].

Media: Fan print (uchiwa-e), 230 x 270 mm.

Kabuki play Chūkō shōbu-gatana [忠孝菖蒲刀] performed at the Nakamura Theater in Tokyo (Edo) in 5/1817.

Actor Seki Sanjūrō II [関三十郎], a.k.a. Seki Utasuke I; Nakamura Utasuke; Arashi Sôtarô; Meijin Seki; Sekisan (Japanese, 1786 – 1839) as Nakano Tōbei [中野藤兵衛] – top.

Actor Bandō Mitsugorō III [坂東三津五郎], a.k.a. Bandô Minosuke I, Morita Kanjirô II, Bandô Mitahachi I, Bandô Minosuke I, Bandô Mitahachi (Japanese, 1775 – 1831) I as Miki Jūzaemon [三木十左衛門] – left.

Actor Matsumoto Kōshirō V [松本幸四郎], a.k.a. Ichikawa Komazô III; Ichikawa Sumizô I (Japanese, 1764 – 1838) as Akabori Mizuemon [あかぼり水右衛門] – right.

Reference images:

MFA Boston. Accession Number 11.29291-3. Actors Arashi Kichisaburô III as Akabori Mizuemon, with Matsumoto Kunigorô and Arashi Kangorô (R); Arashi Rikan III as Nakano Tôbei (C); and Kataoka Gadô II as Miki Jûzaemon, with Naritaya Sôbei II(?) and Ôtani Tokuji II (L)

Additional Information

Collection	Fan print (Uchiwa-e) [団扇絵] , Japanese prints and drawings
Type / Purpose	Fan , Woodblock print
Period	19 AD , Bunka era [文化] (1804–1818) , Early 19th century , Edo period [江戸時代] (1603–1868)
Country	Japan
Media/Technique	Ink and color on paper , Woodblock print (nishiki-e)
Size	Fan print. Uchiwa-e
Subject	Japan , Kabuki , Kabuki actor , Kabuki actors , Kabuki play , Kabuki theater , Play “Chūkō shōbu-gatana” , Theatre
School	Utagawa (歌川)
Creation / Publishing year	1817 , Bunka 14
Genre	Actor Prints (Yakusha-e, 役者絵)
Acquisition year	2024