Kunisada: Komachi Mitate of Actor with Fan and Fireflies

Artist: Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865)

Title: Mitate Sotoba 見立そとは
Series: Modern Seven Komachi (Tosei nana komachi) Date: 1857

It is a summer evening. We see a seated actor, probably Onoe Kikugoro V, in a female role wearing a layered kimono in translucent black over red that billows elegantly as it is caught in the breeze. Surrounding them are flowering plants, as they are next to a lakeside or riverside garden. The actor holds aloft a fan with a flowering iris motif. The air is filled with glowing fireflies.

According to the story, two priests passing by River Katsura found the very elderly Komachi, who had seated herself on a gravestone to rest. Two passing priests criticized her for being disrespectful, but she offered a deep and thoughtful response that gave them pause. Yoshitoshi created a sympathetic and insightful design of this scene in "One Hundred Aspects of the Moon", titled "Gravemarker Moon."

The series title “Seven Komachi“ relates to the famous nana (seven) legendary acts of Komachi (Ono-no Komachi; ca. 825-ca. 900), the celebrated poetess of the Heian Period. This series gives a spin on each of the seven legends related to Komachi, who was also known as a matchless beauty. The seven scenes are “Shimizu Komachi“, ”amagoi Komachi”, “ómu Komachi“,"sóshi-arai Komachi“, “Sekimachi Komachi“,  “kayoi Komachi“, and “sotoba Komachi“. 

The designs of this series are based on the legendary seven stories, but are “modernized” by placing contemporary Kabuki actors in the scene. 

Condition: Excellent impression and color; very good condition.

Dimensions: ôban (38 x 26 cm)
Publisher: Ebisuya Shoshichi
Seal: Aratame and date seal (6th month of Snake Year)
Signature: Toyokuni ga

SKU: KUS598