Comments - Dramatic design featuring two scenes from the ghost story commonly known as "The Dish Mansion." The evil samurai Asayama Tetsuzan falsely accused the maid Okiku of losing one dish from a valuable ten-piece set. He said he would forgive her if she would submit to his advances, but she would not, even after his retainer Inukawa Shosuke tortured her, dropping her into a well repeatedly. The pair eventually killed Okiku. After the murder, the ghost of Okiku returned to haunt them, endlessly counting the dishes and bursting into a wail at the number ten. At left, Okiku hangs from the pulley above the well, bound with a rope around her torso, her dripping wet hair hanging limply as Tetsuzan watches her closely. In the center, Shosuke grimaces angrily as he waves a sword in one hand while Tetsuzan watches with a frown at right, his bushy hair sticking up atop his head. From left, the actors are Ichikawa Danjuro IX as Tetsuzan, Onoe Kikugoro as Okiku, and Ichikawa Sadanji as Shosuke. Nice large expressive figures, detailed with burnishing on the black kimono.

Artist - Chikanobu (1838 - 1912)

Image Size - 14 1/8" x 28 5/8" + margins as shown

Condition - This print with nice color and detail as shown. Three separate panels. Vertical centerfold in each panel. Small repair, slight paper remnants and rubbing at sides, slight creasing. Please see photos for details.