Ukiyo-e Prints

浮世絵版画

Port Townsend, Washington

UTAGAWA KUNIYOSHI

歌川国芳

うたがわくによし

1797-1861

Subject: Yorikane about to slay Takao

Actor (male role/Yorikane):

Sawamura Chōjūrō V

沢村長十郎
まるしお.ちょうじゅうろう

(Waseda University identification: See the cautionary note below.)

Actor (female role/Takao): Iwai Kumesaburō III

岩井粂三郎

いわい. くめさぶろう

(Waseda University identification: See the cautionary note below.)

Play: 伊達旭盛桜

だてぜんせいさくらのいろまく

(Waseda University identification: See the cautionary note below.)

Theater: Nakamura

中村

なかむら

(Waseda University identification: See the cautionary note below.)

Date: 1847-50

Note: The Waseda University site gives the date as 1849, 4th Month. However, they also identify this print as having been created by Toyokuni III although the signature is clearly that of Kuniyoshi. Despite this one error the Waseda site is a great, great resource and is generally reliable.

Censors: Mera & Murata

Signed: Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga

Publisher: Enshu-ya Matabei

版元: 遠州屋又兵衛

はんもと: えんしゅうや.またべい

Oban diptych

SOLD!

EVER SINCE

I STARTED THIS WEB SITE

I HAVE LEARNED A TON

ABOUT THIS THEME

BUT NOT ENOUGH YET IF YOU ASK ME!

As noted on other related pages this theme of Yorikane slaying his lover Takao has certainly grabbed my attention. For that reason I have sought to offer as many different examples as possible. Below are several of the other - sold and unsold. To visit those pages click on each image. Only the print by Hirosada shows Yorikane by himself.

Publisher: Enshu-ya Matabei

Censor's seals: Mera & Murata

Signature:

Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga

with

paulownia seal

The difference in tone and color between this detail from the right panel of this diptych and the image or the whole diptych at the top of the page is due to the different methods used in reproduction. The top one is from a digital camera taken in natural lighting and this one is from a scan. The scan is more accurate.