Toyokuni I: The Actor Sawamura Gennosuke 澤村源之助 holding the Spool of Love

Artist: Utagawa Toyokuni I (1769-1825)
Title: The Actor Sawamura Gennosuke 澤村源之助 Holding the Spool of Love

Date: 1807, 4th month

The kabuki actor Sawamura Gen’nosuke. In his right hand he holds aloft the odamaki spool of thread, the “spool of love”. Perhaps this is from the play “Imose-yama On’na Teikin” 妹背山女庭訓 and the love is between  between Omiwa お三輪 and Motome 求女. Sawamura Gen’nosuke I (1784-1812), who debuted in 1791 at Ichimura-za, Edo, became known as one of the three young Kabuki stars, together with Onoe Eisaburô and Ichikawa Danjûrô VII. In 1811 he became Sawamura Sôjûrô IV. His father was Sawamura Sôjûrô III.

Dimensions: ôban (38.5 x 26 cm)
Publisher: Mikawaya Seiemon
Seal: Kiwame with date the fourth month of Year of Rabbit (1807) 極卯六

Signature: Toyokuni ga

SKU: TOK058