Kunisada: Actor Visiting the Pleasure Quarters (Kayoi Komachi)

Artist: Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865)

Title: Kayoi Komachi かよひ
Series: Modern Seven Komachi (Tosei nana komachi) Date: 1857

Visiting (Kayoi) Komachi, a layered mitate or parody of one of the famous Seven Komachi episodes. An actor puts a hand on a palanquin and gazes towards the entrance gate of what seems to be the pleasure quarters. We are not certain if he has just arrived or if he is departing. A crescent moon hangs above.

The series title “Seven Komachi“ relates to the famous nana (seven) legendary acts of Komachi (Ono-no Komachi; ca. 825-ca. 900), the celebrated poetess of the Heian Period. This series gives a spin on each of the seven legends related to Komachi, who was also known as a matchless beauty. The seven scenes are “Shimizu Komachi“, ”amagoi Komachi”, “ómu Komachi“,"sóshi-arai Komachi“, “Sekimachi Komachi“,  “kayoi Komachi“, and “sotoba Komachi“. The designs of this series are based on the legendary seven stories, but are “modernized” by placing contemporary Kabuki actors in the scene. 

Condition: Excellent impression and color; very good condition.

Dimensions: ôban (36.2 x 24.6 cm)
Publisher: Ebisuya Shoshichi
Seal: Aratame and date seal (6th month of Snake Year)
Signature: Toyokuni ga

SKU: KUS609