Comments - Interesting kabuki scene from "The Yotsuya Ghost Story," (Yotsuya Kaidan), one of Japan's most famous ghost stories. The ronin Tamiya Iemon wants to be rid of his wife, Oiwa, to marry his neighbor, who tries to kill Oiwa by poisoning her. Instead, the poison disfigures her. Seeing her horrible face in the mirror, she dies, but returns to haunt Iemon, who sees her hideous image everywhere and commits many murders trying to kill her ghost. In this scene before her death, she sits on her bed during her illness, clutching a baby to her chest. She looks up at her husband with a frown as he takes the mosquito netting from around her bed to pawn it. At left, the medicine peddler Naosuke Gonbei eavesdrops outside the door, a bundle hanging from a stick over his shoulder. At right, a cloud of smoke rises from the red coals of a small hibachi, drifting across the room. From left, the actors are Ichikawa Kuzo, Kataoka Gado, and Onoe Kikugoro. Nice large expressive figures in a handsomely detailed setting.

Artist - Kunichika (1835 - 1900)

Image Size - 13 7/8" x 25 5/8"

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Three attached panels, backed with paper. Slight separation at ends of folds between panels. Slight soiling, a few spots. Please see photos for details.