Comments - Interesting kabuki scene of the young boy Koshiro, who was captured during a battle and brought to the samurai Sasaki Moritsuna's headquarters. At left, Kagaribi, the mother of Koshiro, has arrived outside, and shoots an arrow with a message into the house where Moritsuna's wife finds it. Kagaribi still holds the bow in her hand while behind her, Hayase looks at her husband with a slight smile. He appears in the center, frowning as he rests one hand atop the hilt of his sword. At lower right, the messenger Wada Hidemori has come with a request that the child be returned to his father. He grips a pistol and one hand, glaring angrily up at the daimyo. Behind him, the warrior Hojo Tokimasa watches with a tightlipped frown, a flowing white wig covering his horned helmet. From left, the actors are Bando Shucho II as Hayase, Ichikawa [?] as Kagaribi, Ichikawa [?] I as Koshiro, Nakamura [?] I as Sasaki Moritsuna, Ichikawa Sadanji I as Wada Hidemori, and Nakamura Shikan IV as Hojo Tokimasa. Nice expressive figures set off by a deep red background, detailed with burnishing in the black kimono and fan and embossing in the white wig.

Artist - Kunisada III (1848 - 1920)

Image Size - 14" x 27 3/4" + top margin as shown

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Three attached panels, backed with paper. Slight separation at end of vertical fold, repaired. Slight soiling and ink offsetting, a few creases. Please see photos for details. Good overall.