Kiichi Hōgen and His Book of Strategy: Sawamura Tanosuke III as Princess Minazuru
Utagawa Kunisada
Description
Subject Matter:
Kiichi Hōgen and His Book of Strategy is a part of the Heike cycle of plays based on the war between the Taira and Minamoto clans at the end of the twelfth century. This play was first performed as a bunraku (puppet) play before being adapted for kabuki.
Actor Sawamura Tanosuke III was born into a family of kabuki actors in 1845. He was active from the time he was a child, in 1849. In the later part of his life he suffered from an unknown ailment that caused him to have both feet and parts of his hands amputated. In spite of his disability, he continued to perform until his death in 1878. He was best known for his onnagata (“female form” or “female role”) roles and for contemporary plays.
Physical Description:
In this print, a woman in colorful, floral robes looks coyly to the side. Her hand is near her mouth but concealed by her sleeve. Pink flowers stand out against a dark background behind her. A black and white checkered strip borders the top of the print.
This is the right panel of a diptych.
Inscriptions: Kaizuru hime, Sawamura Tanosuke (Title); Hanmoto Izutsuya (Publisher's seal); Tori 9, aratame (Censor's seal); Toyokuni ga (Artist's signature)
Usage Rights:
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