Kuniteru II: My Pet Cat Has Caught A Rat Lyric Sheet

Artist: Ichiyusai Kuniteru II (Active ca. 1865)
Title: My Pet Cat Has Caught A Rat

Series: A Master Text of Popular Songs 葉宇田虎の巻  Date: 1866

On a cartouche at top meant to look like a rolled scroll, we see what must be lyrics to this popular song. The man at right seems to be singing the song, as well as dancing some improvised steps to a tune that must have been quite well-known in the late Edo period. He looks down at his domestic cat, which indeed does carry a rat in its mouth. This amusing series features several comic scenes of men singing songs at a time when their singing is not appreciated by bystanders.

Dimensions: oban 37.3 x 25.4cm 
Publisher: Etsuka
Literature: See MFA Boston for the Bigelow example.

Signature: Ichiyusai Kuniteru ga

SKU: KTR006