Comments - Interesting kabuki scene from the play "Keisei Soga Kurawa Kagami." From left, the actors are Ichimura Kakitsu IV as the spirit of a female cedar tree, Ichikawa Kodanji IV as Hakoomaru, and Ichimura Kakitsu IV as the Spirit of a male cedar tree. In the center, the young Hakoomaru (the future Soga no Goro Tokimune), stares up the male cedar tree spirit, holding a bell in his hand. The male spirit raises a wooden staff high, pushing up the sleeve of his white kimono shaded with yellow, a rather distraught expression on his face. At left, the female spirit smiles gently at the boy, her long hair pulled back into a low ponytail over her shoulders. She wears a colorful brocade robe over a white kimono, and has clusters of tiny blue flowers atop her head. An inset in the center shows a worried-looking man. An intriguing subject set against a dark night sky with cedars trees silhouetted in black. The Boston Museum of Fine Arts has this image in its collection.

Artist - Kunichika (1835 - 1900)

Image Size - 13 5/8” x 27 1/4"

Condition - With excellent color and detail as shown. Three separate panels, backed with paper. Please see photos for details. Good overall.