Poem by Sanjoin Onna Kurodo Sakon: Ichikawa Danjuro VIII as Tokijiro - Handsome portrait of Ichikawa Danjuro VIII as the samurai Kasuga-ya Tokijiro. Having fallen on hard times, he was unable to redeem his lover, the courtesan Urazato, from her Yoshiwara brothel. After finding out about their affair, the brothel owner forbid the couple from meeting again. Tokijiro stares over his shoulder with a solemn frown, his arms firmly folded across his chests, unhappy about not being able to see his beloved. He wears a striped kimono with a decorative blue geometric pattern, a white cloth tied under his neck against the cold weather. The Yoshiwara brothel appears behind him against a wintry gray sky. Hand-applied pigment that has oxidized to gray simulates falling snow. A poignant, expressive figure, detailed with cloth embossing on the white head scarf and soft shading in the background.

Artist - Toyokuni III/Kunisada (1786 - 1864)

Image Size - 13 5/8" x 9 3/8"

Condition - This print with good detail as shown. Stitching holes at sides, repaired. A couple marks on sky and creases. Please see photos for details.