Comments - Terrific kabuki scene from the famous tale of Princess Yuki, who was tied to a cherry tree in the gardens of the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto by an evil samurai whose advances she rebuffed. She drew a mouse in the soft dirt with her toe, and it came to life and multiplied, chewing through the ropes and freeing her. She looks up with a smile as the as the mice scamper over her shoulders biting through the ropes holding her captive. Her red kimono is patterned with colorful flowers, and her hair is adorned with a cluster of blue flowers trimmed with metallic fringe and ribbons. A few cherry blossom petals in metallic pigment that has oxidized to a dark tone, as is typically seen on this subject, flutter down from the blossoming tree branches overhead. A bold composition with the single large figure and tree. Nicely detailed with embossing on the white kimono trim and burnishing on the black obi.

Artist - Kunichika (1835 - 1900)

Image Size - 13 3/4" x 27 3/4" + top margin as shown

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Three separate panels, backed with paper. Tear and small loss at edge, repaired. Slight toning and soiling, a few creases and small marks. Please see photos for details. Good overall.