Comments - Poignant scene from the popular kabuki play "Sugawara Denju Tenerai Kagami" showing the samurai Matsuomaru steeling himself to identify the severed head of his own son. Matsuomaru had been ordered by his lord Shihei to ensure that his former master Sugawara's son, Kan Shusai, was killed at his village school. Matsuomaru and his wife decided to enroll their son Kotaro in the school, in the hopes that Kan Shusai's life might be saved by his substitution, to repay a debt of gratitude to Sugawara. Here, Matsuomaru must look at the head inside the cylindrical wooden container held by the schoolteacher Takebe Genzo and betray no emotion as he states that the child is Kan Shusai. Genzo's wife Tonami smiles as she looks up, unaware of the substitution. The actors include Kawarazaki Gonjuro as Genzo and Nakamura Shikan as Matsuomaru. Nice large expressive figures set against a softly shaded background with handsome wood grain impression.
Artist - Toyokuni III/Kunisada (1786 - 1864)
Image Size - 14" x 19 1/8" + margin as shown
Condition - This print with excellent detail as shown. Two separate panels. Slight toning and soiling. Please see photos for details.
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