Toyoharu KUNICHIKA (1835-1900)
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The actor Bando Hikosaburo V as Nikki Danjo from a set Goketsu kijutsu kurabe, “Competition of the Magicians.” Published by Matsui Eikichi, 1873/4. Hikosaburo played Nikki Danjo in the play Date zensei kuruwa kagami at the Murayama Theatre, 3/1872. The story relates how Nikki Danjo retrieves the list of conspirators against the Lord of Oshu by changing into a rat. A guard attacks the rat and strikes it on the head with an iron fan. It transmogrifies into Nikki Danjo. This sensational scene in kabuki has Nikki Danjo emerging through a trapdoor in the hanamachi in a cloud of smoke. He is usually shown with the scroll of conspirators in his mouth and a red mark on his forehead where he was hit by the fan.
Very fine impression. Fine colour and condition. Signed Oju Kunichika hitsu.
Status: Available
Attributed to Toyoharu KUNICHIKA (1835-1900)
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An oban diptych shini-e (memorial portrait) of the famous kabuki actor Ichikawa Danjuro VII (1791-1859). Upper right is the date of his burial, Ansei 6 (1859), 3rd month, 24th day. A long inscription at left on his life. The image top right shows his great-great-great grandfather, the first Ichikawa Danjuro (1660-1704). The other image, top left, shows Danjuro VIII (1823-1854), his son, who predeceased him by 4 years. See Waseda University Theatre Museum, acc. Nos. 114-0330 and 114-0332 (attributed to Kunichika).
Fine impression and colour. Light album backing, otherwise fine condition.
Status: Sold