Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) (1786-1865).
A night scene from the drama "Azuma kudari gojûsan tsugi, performed in the 7th and 8th month of the year at the Kawarazaki Theatre in Edo.
On the right an old woman - actually a cat demon - with a baby in her arms, called Kôshitsu (widow) Kogarashi Gozen (played by Ichikawa Kodanji IV). In the middle, with a bamboo staff in his hand, the samurai Isozaki Hayato (Arashi Rikan III). Behind him in the autumn grasses sits a huge stone cat with yellow glowing eyes, watching the action. Standing on the left is the samurai (Tokisada) Suruganosuke (Bandô Takesaburô I), at his side the high courtesan Takamado Tayû (Bandô Shûka I).
Title: Tôkaidô gojûsan tsugi no uchi - Okabe Mariko no aida Utsunoya Nekoishi (The 53 Stations of the Tokaido Road - The Cat Stone at the Utsunoya pass between Okabe and Mariko).
Signature: Toyokuni ga, in Toshidama cartouches.
Publisher: Yamaguchiya Tôbei (Kinkôdô), Edo. Censorship: Aratame
Date: 1854, 7th month (intercalary month)
Original Japanese colour woodblock print. Size: Ôban triptych, together c. 37 x 76 cm (total)
Very good impression and colours, with embossing, burnishing, a little mica in the upper part of the sky. Three separate sheets, untrimmed, not backed. Vertical creases partly smoothed, unobtrusive from the front. Paper a little bit wavy, small stains and rubbing at margins. Overall very good condition.
A rarely seen triptych. Ill. In Ôta Memorial Museum of Art, Cats in Ukiyo-e, p. 86, fig. 100. Cf. also Hankyu Bunka Collection, 2372-01/02/03.
sold