Comments - Handsome kabuki portrait of Kataoka Gado as the samurai Kazunosuke, who murders his mistress, the courtesan Otsuta, when he falsely believes that she is having an affair with another warrior. Confronting her in the garden of a mansion, he kills her and throws her body down a well, and her spirit returns to haunt the home. Here, the enraged Kazunosuke stares over his shoulder with a tight-lipped frown as he confronts the beauty. He wears a black coat and kimono with a beautiful burnished pattern of flowers in hexagons with scrolls and leaves, his robe tucked into striped pants. A willow tree frames a view of the mansion behind him, with the ropes for the pulley of the well hanging from it at upper left. A striking design with an interesting setting.

Artist - Chikanobu (1838 - 1912)

Image Size - 13 7/8" x 9 3/8"

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Backed with paper. Slight toning and soiling, small ink mark. Please see photos for details.