Comments - Fantastic kabuki portrait of a cat witch who lived in an abandoned temple at Okazaki, scowling with rage as she looks over her shoulder. She assumed the form of a woman in order to lure victims into the temple. Here, her true nature appears, with ears sticking up from her white hair and her clawed paws visible. The ruined blinds of the temple hang behind the demon, with grasses growing through them and a bat fluttering about. Interestingly, the witch has been caught while blackening her teeth, a brush still in one paw and a container of black pigment on an elegant lacquer basin before her. Called "Ohaguro," the custom of blackening teeth was popular for hundreds of years until the Meiji era, and was commonly used to indicate a woman's married status. A terrific supernatural image, detailed with embossing on the white hair.

Artist - Toyokuni III/Kunisada (1786 - 1864)

Image Size - 13 7/8" x 9 7/8" + margins as shown

Condition - This print with excellent detail as shown. Stitching holes at side, repaired. Slight soiling. Please see photos for details.