Kunisada: Battledore (Hagoita) Portrait with Handle of Sawamura Tossho II as Nippon Daemon
Artist: Utagawa Kunisada 歌川国貞 (1786-1865)
Title: Sawamura Tossho II in the role of Nippon Daemon
Date: 7th month of Dog Year (1862) 改戌七
Sawamura Tossho II in the role of Nippon Daemon, the leader of five dandyish thieves. The actor is portrayed on a hagoita, or battledore, and to the side we see the shuttlecock, made with wrapped feathers. On the right is an embroidered game ball. What is exceptional about this work is that the printed and attached handle of the hagoita is still intact after so many decades. This Hagoita-e series presented popular roles played by famous Kabuki actors, and consists of 7 prints, according to the Catalogue Kokuritsu Gekijô (国立劇場National Theater), which are as follows: This artwork of Nippon Daemon by Sawamura Tosshô II; Tengu kozô Kiritarô 天狗小僧霧太郎 by Sawamura Tanosuke III三代目澤村田之助, Kijin Omatsu 鬼神於松by Iwai Kumesaburô IV 四代目岩井粂三郎, Jirai-ya 児雷也 by Kawarazaki Gonjûrô I 初代河原崎権十郎, Ishikawa Goemon 石川五右衞門 by Nakamura Shikan IV 四代目中村芝翫, Hakamadare Yasusuke 袴垂保輔 by Bandô Hikosaburô V 五代目坂東彦三郎, Tenjiku Tokubei 天竺徳兵衛 by Ichimura Kakitsu IV 四代目市村家橘.
Nippon Da-emon is a main character in “Aoto-zôshi hana-no-nishikie “ 青砥稿花紅彩画, which was written by Kawatake Mokuami and performed in 1862 for the first time--it is commonly called “Shiranami go-nin otoko”,白波五人男 (Five White Wave Thieves). Nippon Da-emon日本駄右衛門 is the leader of the Five: Benten Kozô Kikunosuke, Nanagô Rikimaru, Tadanobu Rihei, and Akaboshi Jûzaburô. Here Sawamura Tosshô II 二代目沢村訥升 played the role. Kunisada depicted the scene of striking a dramatic mie 見得 pose, with his determined expression, holding a rolled letter. He carries a sword and a small furoshiki-wrapped bundle over his shoulder. The raised-woodgrain printing technique on the background of the battledore also increases the trompe-loeil effect. There is also the lacquer-imitating effect on the shiny black of his upper robe.
Condition: Excellent impression and color; very good condition.
Dimensions: ôban 35.5 cm plus handle of 13.7 cm x 24.2 cm
Publisher: Yorozu-chô Hirano-ya 萬町平のや Hirano-ya Shinzô 平野屋新蔵
Literature: See Edo Tokyo Museum website for another example with the handle
Signature: Ki-ô Tayokuni hitsu喜翁豊国筆(Ki-ô 喜翁means “a venerable old man celebrating 77 years old. Character 喜 can be written 七十七seventy-seven. Therefore, it is especially happy age to celebrate such as 88 years old called Bei-ju米寿 referring to the character ‘rice’, which can be written 八十八)
SKU: KUS622
