Kunisada: Mitate of Parrot Komachi with Two Actors

Artist: Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865)

Title: Omu Komachi あふむ Series: Modern Seven Komachi 当世七小町(Tosei nana komachi) Date: 1857

Mitate of Parrot Komachi (Ömu Komachi). It is a summer evening. Two actors are relaxing on a verandah overlooking a river. The one seated wears a summer yukata and has a towel on his shoulder; there is a pipe on the floor next to him. The second one wears an informal robe with a translucent black outer robe atop it. They both hold sheaves of paper with writing on them, perhaps scripts they need to memorize.

Regarding Parrot Komachi,  the story is thus: The emperor sent this poem to the aged Komachi: “Although above the clouds things do not change from how they were in the past, do you look back fondly on your time spent within the jeweled curtains”.  By changing only one word of the emperor’s poem, Komachi demonstrates that age has not dulled her wit, “Although above the clouds things do not change from how they were in the past, I do indeed look back fondly on my time spent within the jeweled curtains.”

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, color and condition. 

Dimensions: ôban (36.2 x 24.7 cm)
Publisher: Ebisuya Shoshichi
Seal: Aratame and date seal (6th month of Snake Year)
Signature: Toyokuni ga

SKU: KUS608