Comments - Great kabuki portrait of Ichikawa Kodanji IV as a fireman, making his way to a fire on a dark night. He looks ahead with a sober frown as he lifts his lantern high. He wears a beautifully quilted fireman's jacket with a design of splashing waves and coral, over a quilted shirt with a geometric print. Behind him, the lanterns of other fireman rushing to the site can be seen against the sky. Hand-applied silver pigment is spattered across the dark night sky to represent ashes or embers drifting from the fire. A nice expressive figure with wonderful detail in the quilting, embossing in the lantern, and fine line work in the hair.

Artist - Yoshitsuya (1822 - 1866)

Image Size - 13 7/8" x 9 1/4"

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Paper remnants on reverse from previous backing. Loss at edge, repaired. Slight soiling and creasing, a few marks, slight rubbing at left edge. Please see photos for details. Good overall.