Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III). Iwai Kumesaburō III as Shirai Gonpachi and Ichikawa Ebizō V as Banzui Chōbei in kabuki play "Kakitsubata Tamuke no Hanakawado" / Fan print, 1850.
岩井粂三郎・白井権八 / 市川海老蔵・幡隨長兵衛 / 杜若手向花川戸
Color woodblock print for a rigid fan (uchiwa-e), 210 × 275 mm.
Figures. Two half-length figures against a green-to-dark-blue gradated sky under pine trees.
Left: Iwai Kumesaburō III (岩井粂三郎) as Shirai Gonpachi (白井権八, inscribed in red rectangular cartouche), in a dark brown haori (羽織) with circular mon enclosing a well-crest (izutsu, 井筒) over a red-and-blue kimono; hair in topknot style; sword hilt visible.
Right: Ichikawa Ebizō V (市川海老蔵) as Banzui Chōbei (幡隨長兵衛, inscribed in red rectangular cartouche), in a blue kimono with white mulberry leaf (kaji-no-ha, 梶の葉) motif; a boldly patterned red-and-white plaid garment draped over one shoulder; large stiff oikubi (大首) collar characteristic of the aragoto (荒事) acting tradition.
Inscriptions. Left: artist's signature Toyokuni ga (豊國画) within a red toshidama cartouche; publisher's mark 十 (jū) for Kojimaya Jūbei (小島屋重兵衛). Censor seals: Mera and Murata (partially trimmed off). No date seal.
Identification. The actors' names are not inscribed on the print, but the roles and actors have been identified by Horst Graebner as corresponding to a performance of the play Kakitsubata Tamuke no Hanakawado (杜若手向花川戸, "Iris: A Floral Tribute at Hanakawado") at the Kawarazaki theatre (河原崎座, Kawarazaki-za), Edo, in the third month of Kaei 3 (嘉永3年3月, 1850), in which Iwai Kumesaburō III and Ichikawa Ebizō V appeared together in these roles.
Additional Information
| Collection | Fan print (Uchiwa-e) [団扇絵] , Japanese prints and drawings |
|---|---|
| Type / Purpose | Fan , Woodblock print |
| Period | 19 AD , Early 19th century , Edo period [江戸時代] (1603–1868) , Kaei era [嘉永] (1848–1854) |
| Country | Japan |
| Language | Japanese |
| Material | Washi |
| Media/Technique | Woodblock print (nishiki-e) |
| Size | Fan print. Uchiwa-e |
| Genre | Actor Prints (Yakusha-e, 役者絵) |
| Subject | Banzui Chōbei (幡隨長兵衛) , Bust-length male portraits , Edo period (江戸時代, 1603–1868) , Fan print , Human face (portrait) , Japan , Japanese woodblock prints , Kabuki , Kabuki actor , Kabuki actors , Kabuki play , Kabuki theater , Pine tree (松, matsu) , Shirai Gonpachi (白井権八) , Theatre , Uchiwa-e , Ukiyo-e , Kawarazaki theatre (河原崎座, Kawarazaki-za) , Double portrait , Otokodate (侠客, kabuki commoner hero) , Aragoto (荒事, kabuki rough-style acting) , Kakitsubata Tamuke no Hanakawado (杜若手向花川戸) |
| School | Utagawa (歌川) |
| Signature | Toyokuni ga [豊国画] |
| Creation / Publishing year | 1850 , Kaei 3 (嘉永3年) |
| Acquisition year | 2026 |
