Matsushima Fusajirō [松島房次郎; seal: hori kō Fusajirō, 彫工房次郎] (Japanese, block carver, fl. 1843–1850)
Murata Sahei [村田佐右衛門; seal: Murata, 村田] (Japanese, censor, fl. 1842–1852) Mera Ta’ichirō [米良太一郎; seal: Mera, 米良 ] (Japanese, censor, fl. 1843–1851)
Artist: Utagawa Kunisada [歌川国貞] (Japanese, 1786–1865), also known as Utagawa Toyokuni III [三代 歌川豊国]
Signed: 豊国画 (Toyokuni ga) in a toshidama cartouche
Publisher: Ibaya Senzaburō [伊場屋仙三郎] (Japanese, fl. c. 1815–1869); seal: san (三) in a circle within a boar’s eye (inome) frame; Marks 11-001 | 127c
Block Carver: Matsushima Fusajirō [松嶋房次郎] (Japanese, fl. 1843–1850); seal: 彫工房次郎 (Hori kō Fusajirō) in a yellow cartouche; Gordon Friese № 135
Censor Seal: Mera & Murata (used jointly 2/1847–11/1850)
Media: Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and colour on paper; uchiwa-e (rigid fan), 232 × 298 mm (9 1/8 × 11 3/4 in.)
Actor: Sawamura Chōjūrō V [沢村長十郎] (Japanese, 1802–1853); other names Sawamura Sōjūrō V [沢村宗十郎], Sawamura Gennosuke II [沢村源之助], Suketakaya Takasuke III [助高屋高助], Sawamura Tosshō I [沢村訥升], Sawamura Genpei I [沢村源平], Sawamura Tosshi V [沢村訥子]; Poetry names: Kōga [江華], Tosshi V [訥子], Tosshō [訥升]; Guild: Kinokuniya [紀の国屋]
Play: Ono no Tōfū aoyagi suzuri [小野道風青柳硯]
Theater: Ichimura-za [市村座], Edo
Performance date: 3rd month, 1850 (Kaei 3)
Description: Half-length portrait of Sawamura Chōjūrō V in three-quarter view, facing left, in the role of Ono no Tōfū [小野道風], the renowned Heian-period calligrapher also known as Ono no Michikaze (894–966). He wears formal courtier’s robes adorned with motifs of phoenixes and clouds, and a traditional court cap (kanmuri) secured under the chin. In his left hand, he holds an open umbrella. The role is from the play Ono no Tōfū aoyagi suzuri (小野道風青柳硯), performed at the Ichimura-za in the 3rd month of 1850 (Kaei 3). The print is performance-related and can be securely dated to 1850. The presence of the censor seals of Mera and Murata, active jointly from 2/1847 to 11/1850, supports this dating.
Provenance: Drouot, Audap & Associés, Paris; June 12, 2025; Lot 47; René Scholten (Dutch, 1943 – 2001)
Thanks to Horst Graebner of the Kunisada Project.
| Collection | Fan print (Uchiwa-e) [団扇絵] , Japanese prints and drawings |
|---|---|
| Type / Purpose | Fan , Woodblock print |
| Period | 19 AD , Edo period [江戸時代] (1603–1868) , Kaei era [嘉永] (1848–1854) , Mid-19th century |
| 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 print , Kabuki actor , Kabuki actors , Ono no Tōfū [Michikaze] [小野道風] (Japanese, 894–966) , Portrait , Uchiwa-e |
| Genre | Actor Prints (Yakusha-e, 役者絵) |
| School | Utagawa (歌川) |
| Creation / Publishing year | 1850 , Kaei 3 |
| Acquisition year | 2025 |
