Artist: Utagawa Kunisada [歌川 国貞]; a.k.a. Utagawa Toyokuni III [三代歌川豊国] (Japanese, 1786 – 1865).
Signed: Toyokuni ga [豊国 画] in a red toshidama cartouche.
Publisher: Ibaya Senzaburō [伊場屋仙三郎] (Japanese, fl. C. 1845 – 1847), seal: San [三] (Marks 11-001 | 127c).
Block carver: Matsushima Fusajirō [松嶋房次郎] (Japanese, fl. 1843 – 1850); seal [彫工房] – Hori kō Fusa (Gordon Friese № 134).
Double nanushi censor seal: Kunigasa & Watanabe (1849-50).
Actor: Iwai Hanshirō VIII [岩井半四郎] (Japanese, 1829 – 1882); other names: Iwai Shijaku II, Iwai Kumesaburō III [岩井粂三郎], Iwai Hisajirō II.
Play: Yukari no Hana Iro mo Yoshiwara [紫花色吉原], performed at the Kawarazaki Theater (Edo) from the 5th day of the 5th lunar month of Kaei 3 (1850) (see Kabuki Playbill at MFA (Boston) № 11.27996).
A famous Yoshiwara courtesan named Manjiya Yatsuhashi [万字屋 八ツ橋] was killed by a provincial commoner Sano Jirōzaemon [佐野次郎左衛門] (on the second sheet of the pair):
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Another Kunisada's print with the same characters in the same play and same performance can be seen at MFA (Boston) № 11.40190.
One more example can be seen in the two upper images at Waseda University Cultural Resources Database, № 006-2707:
Additional Information
| Collection | Fan print (Uchiwa-e) [団扇絵] , Japanese prints and drawings |
|---|---|
| Type / Purpose | Fan |
| Period | Edo period [江戸時代] (1603–1868) , Mid-19th century |
| Country | Japan |
| Media/Technique | Ink and color on paper , Woodblock print (nishiki-e) |
| Subject | Actor print , Kabuki , Kabuki actor , Kabuki actors , Manjiya Yatsuhashi [万字屋 八ツ橋] , Yukari no Hana Iro mo Yoshiwara [紫花色吉原] |
| School | Utagawa (歌川) |
| Creation / Publishing year | 1849 , 1850 |
| Signature | Artist's seal , Block carver signature , Double nanushi censor's seal , Publisher's seal |
| Size | Fan print. Uchiwa-e |
| Genre | Actor Prints (Yakusha-e, 役者絵) |
| Acquisition year | 2019 |
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