Kunichika: Advertisement for play featuring Sawamura Tanosuke, Ichikawa Kyûzô, Ichikawa Kobunnji,and Nakamura Shikan 澤村田之助・市川九蔵・市川小文治・中村芝翫 (RESERVED)
Artist: Toyohara Kunichika 豊原国周 (1835-1900) and Utagawa Kunisada II
Title: Advertisement for kabuki play featuring Sawamura Tanosuke, Ichikawa Kyûzô, Ichikawa Kobunnji,and Nakamura Shikan 澤村田之助・市川九蔵・市川小文治・中村芝翫
Date: 1864, 10th month
We see what looks to be four actors in their “down time”, the three at left dressed in matching informal robes and wearing head towels, shown as they might dress while relaxing backstage at the theater. They all seem to be carrying stacks of broadsheets that are advertising kabuki plays. It is doubtful that these great actors would have done such a thing themselves, as surely there were touts that were employed for this job, but perhaps even showing the actors distributing flyers would create extra interest in their upcoming plays. At right are written the following roles for the following actors: Sawamura Tanosuke III featured as Otake; お竹, Ichikawa Kyûzô III as Kurahashi Jôgorô; 倉橋丈五郎, Ichikawa Kobunnji as Hikosuke 彦助, and Nakamura Shikan IV was featured as Nuregami Chôgorô 濡髪の長五郎 (Otake’s husband). The play is “Futatsu-chô iro-no-dekiai “ 双蝶色成曙played at Morita-za, Edo in 10th month of 1864.
This triptych shows the four actors (the names from left to right) and the extensive text above details the contents and eye-catching scenes of the drama and seems to be a kind of advertisement of the performance. The story features a Father’s revenge taken by his daughter in support of her husband, the setting in Osaka, Tenman-ji Temple. At the end it says: “That’s the new kyogen play, so popular at Morita-za! “ An interesting design that shows a creative type of 19th century advertising featuring a bright yellow ground.
Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition.
Dimensions: Oban triptych, each sheet approx 36.2 x 24.5 cm
Publisher: Ebi-ya Rin’nosuke ゑび林 （海老屋林之助）
Signature: Right sheet: Kochôrô Kunisada ga 香蝶楼国貞画; Center & left sheet: Kunichika ga国周画
SKU: KCA124