Comments - Lively scene from the kabuki dance "Makura Jido" or "Pillow Jido." In the story, the young boy Jido flees to the mountains after accidentally stepping over the emperor's pillow. During his exile, he wrote a Buddhist verse on the leaf of a rangiku, a spreading chrysanthemum with long slender petals, and recited it daily. The dew that gathered on the leaf became a magical elixir of life, so after drinking the dew Jido gained immortality, becoming known as the "Chrysanthemum Boy." Here, he raises his fan above his head as he watches two girls wearing butterfly costumes dancing alongside a stream, his other hand resting atop a pillow. The dancers wears matching white robes patterned with flowers and butterflies, trimmed with pink and red ruffles, and ornate golden headdresses. The child in the center smiles at her companion as she plays a hand drum fastened around her waist. Chrysanthemums grow along the shore behind them, with pine trees framing the red sky and mountains in the distance. From left, the actors are Onoe Kikunosuke II, Onoe Eizaburo V, and Onoe Kikugoro V. An attractive design with vibrant color and a nicely detailed setting.
Artist - Kunisada III (1848 - 1920)
Image Size - 13 3/4" x 28 1/2"
Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Three attached panels, backed with paper. Slight soiling and curling, a few creases. Please see photos for details. Good overall.
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