Kunisada: Kakuju

Artist: Utagawa Kunisada
Title: Kakuju
Series: From Contest of Roles : Mirror of “Tenarai Kagami” (hanakurabe tenarai kyô no uchi)
Date: 11/1852

One of ten portraits from Kabuki Sugawara’s Secrets of Calligraphy (Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami). Kakuju, an aunt of Shôjô, is the real mother of Princess Kariya, and Shôjô and his wife, Sonô no Mae are her adoptive parents. In “Tsue Sekkan” Princess Kariya was placed in the care of her older sister, Tatsuta in Yasui where her real mother lives. Shôjô is supposed to come to bid farewell to Kakuju before going into exile for Kyûshû. Kariya tells Tatsuta that she wishes to ask Shôjô his forgiveness. Kakuju berates for her actions, chastising (sekkan) her with her stick (tsue), and hits Tatsuta when she interfers her. Shôjô’s voice from inside begs her to stop. When they open the doors to his room, they see only his wooden statue. Here in the picture Kakuju sits with her hands clapped and makes a very anxious expression. At the back is the mansion of Kakuju. On the cartouche of the title kimono over a basket, referring Kakuju’s sekkan.

Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition.
Dimensions: ôban
Publisher: Kogaya Katsugorô
Seal: censor’s seals: Watanabe & Mera, Date seal: 11th month of Rat year (1852)
Signature: Toyokuni ga

SKU: KUS252