Comments - Interesting illustration from the kabuki play commonly known as "Kagamiyama." In the second act, the senior lady-in-waiting Iwafuji challenges her junior, Onoe, to a fight with to demonstrate her martial arts skills, the test of a true samurai woman. Iwafuji secretly hopes to embarrass Onoe, who comes from a family of commoners. Onoe's loyal maid Ohatsu comes to her mistress's defense, fighting in her place and besting the evil Iwafuji. Here, Ohatsu kneels in the center, thrusting her practice sword forward with a defiant expression as Iwafuji grips her weapon above her head, scowling unhappily. Onoe watches with a frown at left, a partially unrolled letter concealed behind her back. Blue panels with a scene of a blossoming plum tree line the back of the room, providing an attractive backdrop for the colorful figures. From left, the actors are Sawamura Tossho II as Churo Onoe, Sawamura Tanosuke III as Jijo Ohatsu, and Bando Hikosaburo V as Tsubone Iwafuji. A handsome design, nicely colored, with fine bokashi shading in Iwafuji's pink kimono.
Artist - Toyokuni III/Kunisada (1786 - 1864)
Image Size - 14 1/4" x 28 7/8"
Condition - With excellent color and detail. Three panels, not attached at the seams and backed with thin paper. Faint staining and spotting in subject with a few small holes along edges, repaired from reverse. Please see photos for details. Nice overall.
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