Kuniyoshi: Act VIII of the Chûshingura (hachi-dan) (Sold)

Artist: Utagawa Kuniyoshi
Title: Act VIII of the Chûshingura (hachi-dan)
Series: Mitate Inspired by the Play Chûshingura (mitate chôchin-gura)
Date: 1847-53

This series has the main figures of the chapters from Kabuki “Chûshin-gura” on lanterns on the right top, however the title of prints is a phonetically similar “chôchin,” meaning a lantern instead of “chûshin,” loyal retainers. The lantern often refers to a pleasure quarter. The lantern of this print depicts Konami with her travel hat. In the act VIII, Konami, daughter of Kakogawa Honzô, decided to visit her fiancee, Rikiya, son of ôhoshi Yuranosuke, in order to marry him, although both families were not allowed to contact each other. She travels the Tôkaidô with her mother-in-law to Yamashina where Rikiya is: the scene of two women travelling, with Mt. Fuji in the background, is a popular depiction (of this chapter). Here, the main figure is a standing woman, a plectrum of her shamisen instrument in her hand. A poem by Umeya about Konami accompanies, comparing the whiteness of snow and that of an ivory plectrum, relating to Konami .

Publisher: Yamamoto-ya Heikichi
Seal: censors’ seals:Muramatsu & Yoshimura (1847-53)
Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga

SKU: KUY222