Comments - Dramatic kabuki scene from a play based popular ghost story commonly known as "The Dish Mansion." Here, the poor lady-in-waiting Okiku is about to be lowered into a well. Falsely accused by the evil samurai Asayama Tetsuzan of losing one dish from a valuable ten-piece set, the warrior has his retainer Iwabuchi torture her, repeatedly dropping her into a well, trying to make her agree to his advances. If she accepts his proposition, the missing dish will be forgiven, but Okiku refuses and the pair eventually kills her. After committing the murder, the ghost of Okiku rises from the well, endlessly counting the dishes. Here, the beauty hangs from a rope, sitting on a ledge above the well. She turns her face away as Tetsuzan thrusts a sword at her chest, staring at her with an angry frown. The setting is the fenced courtyard of the mansion, with a willow tree framing the night sky and a stone lantern at right. Beautifully detailed with a burnished geometric pattern in the black kimono, and fine bokashi shading in the background. A memorable image with wonderfully expressive figures.

Artist - Kunisada III (1848 - 1920)

Image Size - 13 5/8" x 28 1/4" + margins

Condition - This print with excellent color and details. Three panels, attached at the seams and backed with thin paper. Please see photos for details. Nice overall.