Kunisada: Tattooed Zhang Shun with Dragon Robe 張順に比す夢の市郎兵衛

Artist: Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) (1786-1865)
Title: Actor Kataoka Nizaemon VIII as Yume no Ichirobei, Compared to the Chinese Water Margin hero Zhang Shun (Chôjun ni hisu)  張順に比す夢の市郎兵衛

Series: Tosei Suikoden 當世好男子傳 (A Modern Suikoden)

Date: 1859

Actor Kataoka Nizaemon VIII as Yume no Ichirobei, Compared to the Chinese Water Margin hero Zhang Shun (Chôjun ni hisu). We see Nizaemon reaching for his white towel, his torso tattoo featuring clouds split with a red bolt of lightning. This seems to match his robe, which is decorated with a large dragon that is spreading its wings and flying above curling waves. It is somewhat unusual to see dragon wings as depicted here.  In this series famous actors were compared to characters in the Suikoden, the Chinese tale of marsh-dwelling antiheroes that was made famous by Kuniyoshi. Although works in this series are individual sheets, three together can also be put together to form a triptych. There is also a secondary theme of setsugekka, Pine, Plum and Bamboo. This is one of three with the Bamboo theme. It is lauded for the quality of the printing, which is here fresh and exceptional.

Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition.
Dimensions: Oban (36.7 x 25.3 cm)
Publisher: Hayashiya Shogoro (Rinsho)
Seal: carver: hori Ota Tashichi
Signature: Konomi ni makase Toyokuni ga

Reference: See MFA Boston. MFA, Kuniyoshi & Kunisada (2016), #9.

SKU: KUS547