Comments - Handsome kabuki portrait Bando Hikosaburo V as the court calligrapher Ono no Tofu, who is urged to join a plot to overthrow the emperor. Walking home on a rainy night, he sees a frog trying to jump up into the branch of a willow tree. It tries again and again, slipping back into the water below, before finally succeeding. Ono realizes that like the frog, the evildoers plotting against the emperor might eventually succeed if they persist long enough. He decides then to expose the courtiers and save the emperor's life. He looks over his shoulder with a suspicious frown, an umbrella in his hand. He wears a light brown robe patterned with phoenix medallions over a white under robe, and a black court cap. Nicely detailed with embossing in the white under robe.

Artist - Kunisada II (1823 - 1880)

Image Size - 13 7/8" x 9 1/2"

Condition - This print with excellent detail as shown. Backed with paper. Slight toning and soiling. Please see photos for details. Good overall.