Comments - Handsome scene from "The Subscription List" (Kanjincho), one of the "Eighteen Kabuki Plays" made famous by the Ichikawa Danjuro line of actors. In the drama, Minamoto no Yoshitsune and his men attempt to sneak across the border disguised as monks to evade his brother, Yoritomo. Charged with intercepting the party, the aristocrat Togashi Saemon, shown at right a blue kamishimo patterned with cranes, becomes suspicious of the young porter at upper left, who resembles Yoshitsune (and actually is). To allay the daimyo's suspicions, Yoshitsune's faithful retainer Musashibo Benkei gestures angrily as he berates the porter, something he would never do to his master, a string of prayer beads clasped in his hands. At lower right, Togashi's retainer Kamei Rokuro wears a yellow kimono with a spider web design over his armor. A text panel in the form of a scroll runs across the top. The actors include Onoe Kikugoro as Yoshitsune, Ichikawa Danjuro as Benkei, Ichikawa Sadanji as Togashi, and Ichikawa Kodanji as Kamei Rokuro. The colorful figures stand out nicely against the red background. Includes a burnished pattern on burnishing on Togashi's black court cap.

Artist - Kunisada III (1848 - 1920)

Image Size - 14 1/4" x 28 1/8" + margins as shown

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Three separate panels. Slight toning. Please see photos for details. Nice overall.