Comments - Terrific kabuki triptych illustrating the Ninokuchi Village scene from a play about the courtesan Umegawa and the courier Chubei, two young lovers who decided to commit suicide rather than be parted after Chubei steals the money to release Umegawa from her contract. Fleeing to Chubei's home village, they stop for shelter, where they encounter Chubei's father, Magoemon. The beauty stands at left, leaning forward with an eager smile, a roll of tissues in her outstretched hand. The older man sits on a rock beside her, frowning as he realizes his fugitive son is waiting inside the house. A string of prayer beads dangles from his ear, a practice thought to help think clearly and control temper. At right, Chubei peers through the ropes hanging in the doorway, an unhappy expression on his face, sorry for the suffering that he has caused. From left, the actors are Iwai Kumesaburo III as Tsuchiya no Umegawa, Morita Kan'ya XI as Ninokuchi mura Magoemon, and Kataoka Gado II as Kameya Chubei. A fantastic design with expressive figures and a handsome landscape setting under the night sky. Includes burnishing on the both black kimono. The Boston Museum of Fine Arts has this image in its collection.

Artist - Toyokuni III/Kunisada (1786 - 1864)

Image Size - 14" x 28 1/2" + top margin as shown

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Three separate panels. Slight soiling and a few creases at edges. Please see photos for details.