Kunichika: Yotsuya Kaidan Triptych with Ghost of Oiwa Fold-down Panel (Sold)

Artist: Toyohara Kunichika (1835-1900)
Title: The Actors Ichikawa Kuzō III as Naosuke Gonbei Kataoka Gadō III as Tamiya Iemon, Onoe Kikugorō V as Yagashira Yomoshichi and Onoe Kikugorō V as Oiwa and Kobotoke Kōhei in the tale The Tōkaidō Yotsuya Kaidan (Tōkaidō Yotsuya ghost story)
Date: 1884

From the infamous ghost play Yotsuya Kaidan, we see the scene where the double-sided door is fished out of the river by Iemon and two hideous corpses are revealed, one nailed to each side of the door. They come to life and reproach the killer. Here we have an extra panel that flips down to reveal the ghost of Oiwa, with her hideously disfigured face. With the panel up we see the same actor depicting Kohei, with five snakes emerging from his hands instead of five fingers. Just as the special quick-change effects of the kabuki stage must have made this a fantastic production, the extra effect of the hidden image must have helped the print buyer relive the excitement of the stage magic. 

Condition: Excellent impression and color. Very good condition. Backed. 
Dimensions: oban triptych
Publisher: Kamiyama Seichichi
Signature: Toyohara Kunichika hitsu

Literature: See the Museum of International Folk Art.

SKU: KCA108