Kunichika: Kabuki Actor with Dragon Tattoo and Waterfall (Sold)

Artist: Toyohara Kunichika (1835-1900)
Title: Tattooed Onoe Kikugoro and Arashi Rikan Before a Waterfall
Series: Arigataki Megumi no Hanagata 有瀧恵花形 Kabuki Stars Before a Gracious Waterfall
Date: 1883

Here we see Onoe Kikugoro as Rangiku no Koji and Arashi Rikan as Kamuraya Hana. These are famous actors in well-known roles, the pretext being that we are able to glimpse them relaxing at a waterfall; it offers us  the opportunity to admire the the full-body irezumi tattoo that features a dragon amidst clouds. Beautifully printed, with mica at the top of the waterfall and metal pigments in the eye of the tiger. It is interesting that Rikan as Hana seems to be floating in the water, water cascading over her head. Kikugoro holds a robe with a fantastic design of tiger and bamboo, which would form a traditional symbolic pairing with his tattoo of a dragon amidst the clouds. This set of five works contains a pair of actors posed in front of a waterfall on each sheet, with the title cartouche present on every design. Together the five also form a pentaptych.

SKU: KCA106