Kunisada: Nakamura Shikan IV as Magician with Giant Frog on Head (Sold)

Artist: Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865)
Title: The actor Nakamura Shikan IV in the role of the shogun Taro Yoshikado

Series: Competition of the art of magic done by Toyokuni (Toyokuni kigô kijutsu arasoi) 豊国揮毫奇術競  Date: 12/1862

The actor Nakamura Shikan IV in the role of the shogun Taro Yoshikado. Yoshikado was the son of Taira Masakado, who took control of three provinces in northern Japan in the early 10th century. The Imperial army from Kyoto quickly destroyed Masakado’s regime, killing him in the process. In the 19th century, Santo Kyoden wrote a novel based on some of these historical events, and then later a kabuki play “Filial Love at the Abandoned Soma Palace” was written. This play is perhaps the basis of this design. Yoshikado was taught Frog Magic by Gama Sennin in order to avenge the death of his father, Masakado. Here Nakamura Shikan holds a banner with the image of a black horse; this may be the banner of his late father’s forces. A rat has grasped the bottom of it, below. The actor has an enormous, glaring frog draped over the upper half of his body, its head resting atop Nakamura’s like a hat. The frog’s skin features a thick layer of mica, and the robe worn by the actor features shiny lacquer-imitating printing in a pattern of heavy fur. The white banner also features blindprinting.

This luxuriously printed series was probably more about showing the public’s favorite actors in their most fantastic roles than in being a record of a current play.  First edition works from this series, as here, are prized for their luxurious printing and heavy, deluxe paper.

Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition. 
Dimensions: ôban (36.3x 24.4 cm)
Publisher: Hirano-ya  Signature: kiyo Toyokuni hitsu 

References: See the Minneapolis Institute of Art collection

SKU: KUS533