Toyohara Kunichika (1835-1900)
Two men and a female beauty, likely actors in their leisure time, enjoying themselves on a winter evening, playing the shamisen and singing. In the background a lovely city snowscape on the river.
Title: 若俳三勇 (男?) 気肌合 - Waka (hai) sannin (-nan?) yûki (no) hada-ai (uncertain reading on grounds of divergent furigana), approximately: Three daring young actors in high spirits.
Signature: Kunichika ga
Seal: Toshidama
Engraver: Katada Chôjirô
Publisher: Enshûya Hikobei (Enhiko)
Date: 12/1864
Size: Oban triptych, c. 36 x 75 cms (overall paper size)
Excellent impression and colours, with distinctive wood grain. Unbacked, separate sheets, each at left side untrimmed. Some unobtrusive wormage, partly backed. Overall very nice condition.
A very rare triptych with an attractive snow scene as a backdrop. So far no other copy of this complete triptych can be allocated; the middle and right sheets only in the collection of the Shizuoka Prefectural Central Library, K915-108-029-006. For Kunichika see Amy Reigle Newland, Time present and time past. Images of a forgotten master. Toyohara Kunichika. Leiden 1999.
sold