Comments - Great kabuki double portrait of Ichikawa Kodanji IV as the samurai Matsuomaru and Onoe Kikugoro IV as his wife, Chiyo, in a scene from "Sugawara Denju Tenerai Kagami." In order to repay a debt of gratitude to his sponsor, Kan Shojo, the couple substituted their own son to be killed in the place of Kan Shojo's boy. Here, the samurai looks over his shoulder with an anguished expression, holding his sword with both hands. Chiyo looks up at him with her mouth agape lest he give the secret away. A poignant image from this popular drama, beautifully detailed with embossing on the white and light blue kimono collars and a burnished pattern on the black areas of the kimono.

Artist - Toyokuni III/Kunisada (1786 - 1864)

Image Size - 14 1/4" x 9 3/4" + margins as shown

Condition - This print with nice detail as shown. Please see photos for details.