Kunisada: Ma for Masakado with Frog Magic (Sold)

Artist: Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1864)
Title: Frog Magic: Ma for Masakado
Series: Seven Calligraphic Models for Each Character in the Kana Syllabary (Seisho nanatsu iroha)
Date: 1856

The Syllable Ma for Masakado: The actors Iwai Kumesaburô II as Princess Takiyasha-hime and Nakamura Fukusuki I as Otaku Tarô. We see a giant frog spirit conjured up, appearing behind the two. Princess Takiyasha holds up one end of the battle banner, which she is guarding with the help of frog magic. She is dressed in a robe decorated with spiderwebs and perhaps the batlike monster known as the nobusuma. There is mica in the black at the top of the design. A very early impression, there is woodgrain evident in the grey block and there is blindprinting in the white of the actors’ robes.

Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition. Minor binding holes left margin.
Dimensions: ôban (35.9 x 24.8 cm)
Publisher: Eikyûdô
Signature: Toyokuni ga
Literature: See MFA online for their more faded example.

SKU: KUC029S