Comments - Handsome triptych from the kabuki play commonly known as "Sukeroku" showing the young street knight, Sukeroku, who is actually one of the Soga Brothers in disguise, confronting the elderly samurai Ikyu in the Yoshiwara one night. The object of the dispute is the lovely courtesan Agemaki, with whom both are in love. She stands between the men, smiling back at Sukeroku, dressed in an elegant outer robe patterned with the takaramono or precious things, including a magic raincoat, magic straw hat, and sacred jewels, tied with a fantastic obi featuring a carp leaping up a waterfall. Sukeroku glares angrily over his shoulder, wearing a black robe and carrying an umbrella, a sash tied rakishly around his forehead. Ikyu stares back at him with a tight-lipped frown, dressed in a fancy robe with images of bats and peonies in a brocade framework, his long gray hair flowing over his shoulders. A bamboo fence encloses flowering yellow shrubs and cherry trees covered with white blossoms. The actors are Ichikawa Danjuro VIII as Sukeroku, Bando Shuka I as Muraya Agemaki, and Ichikawa Kodanji IV as Hige Ikyu. An attractively detailed illustration from this popular drama.

Artist - Kuniyoshi (1797 - 1861)

Image Size - 14 1/2" x 29 5/8" + margins as shown

Condition - This print with excellent detail as shown. Three separate panels. Stitching holes at one side of two panels, thinning and a couple tears at edges, a few holes, repaired. Creasing, slight toning and soiling, a few wrinkles. Please see photos for details.