Comments - Handsome kabuki double portrait from the play commonly known as "Godairiki" (The Five Great Powers that Secures Love), the story of the samurai Satsuma Gengobei, who falls in love with the geisha Koman. Koman had written on the back of her shamisen the characters for "godairiki," a pledge of fidelity when written by a geisha to her lover. Unbeknownst to her, the evil samurai Sasano Sangobei, who has been spurned by Koman, has altered the writing to look like a pledge of love to him. Here, a man in a cotton kimono holds up the shamisen so the writing is visible, looking over his shoulder with a tightlipped frown. The fellow below frowns angrily as he adjusts a dotted cloth draped over his shoulder. Nice large figures set off by a deep red background.

Artist - Chikashige (active circa 1869 - 1882)

Image Size - 14" x 9 3/8" + margins as shown

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. A few creases. Please see photos for details.