Comments - Great kabuki portrait of Bando Shuka I as the female bandit Kijin no Omatsu in the play "Shinpan Koshi no Shiranami." She smiles happily as she looks up at the stars twinkling in the night sky, clutching a tiny infant to her chest beneath her robe. She wears a beautiful black kimono with a pattern of pine sprigs and falling rain over a suit of armor. At right, Natsume Shirozaburo, played by Ichikawa Danjuro VIII, rests his hand against a wooden post as he looks away with a frown, his sword in hand. A paper lantern hangs from a hook overhead. Beautifully detailed with fine line work in the hair, light embossing in the blue sash, a burnished geometric print in the black areas of the Omatsu's kimono, and a burnished floral print in the black areas of Shirozaburo's robe. A great deluxe printing.

Artist - Toyokuni III/Kunisada (1786 - 1864)

Image Size - 14" x 19 1/4"

Condition - This print with excellent detail as shown. Two attached panels, backed with paper. Slight separation at ends of vertical fold between panels, a few wormholes, repaired. Slight soiling, a few creases and spots. Please see photos for details. Good overall.