Kuniyoshi 国芳: Station Okegawa 桶川 Tamaya Shinbei and Kojorô (Sold)

Artist: Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798-1861)
Title: Station Okegawa 桶川: Tamaya Shinbei and Kojorô
Series: Sixty-nine Stations of the Kisokaidô Road  木曾街道六十九次之内
Date: 6/1852

The courtesan Kojorô keeps watch, glancing nervously towards the night watchmen at left, as her attendant offers sake to Tamaya Shinbei, Kojorô’s lover. He has been imprisoned in a barrel at the entrance to the pleasure quarter for the crime of not paying his brothel fees. We see various serving bowls for food and sake surrounding the cartouche, and a cute puppy at bottom right. A food container sits next to the barrel. This must be an example of true love that has been thwarted by circumstance, as often happened in the pleasure quarters. Station number seven on the Kisokaido. An early impression with perfect colors and mica in the dark sky.

Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition. Binding holes left and tiny wormage top right. Beautiful mica in the dark sky.
Dimensions: ôban (36 x 24.4 cm)
Publisher: Yawataya Sakujirô
Literature: See Sarah Thompson’s “The Sixty-nine Stations of the Kisokaidô”, figure 7, page 30.
Seal: kiri
Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga

SKU: KUY564