Comments - Great scene from the kabuki play commonly known as "Kagamiyama (Mirror Mountain). 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 has fallen on her hands and knees at left, her wooden practice sword lying on the floor. Onoe reaches out to her with alarm, waving a fan above her head. At right, Iwafuji looks on with a horrified expression, still gripping her weapon. From left, the actors are Sawamura Sojuro V as Meshitsukai Ohatsu, Onoe Baiko IV as Churo Onoe, Matsumoto Kinsho I as Tsubone Iwafuji. A classic scene from this popular drama, nicely detailed and colored.

Artist - Toyokuni III/Kunisada (1786 - 1864)

Image Size - 9 5/8" x 13 3/4" + right margin as shown

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Tiny loss at bottom right edge in margin, repaired. Please see photos for details. Nice overall.