Modern Comparisons of Actors and Flowers: Ichikawa Kodanji IV as Tennichibō (Tiger Lily of Suzuka)
Utagawa Kunisada
Description
Subject Matter:
Actor Ichikawa Kodanji IV was born to a family of kabuki actors in 1812. He was active in kabuki from 1820 until his death in 1866. He was known for his roles in jidaimono (period plays) and sewamono (contemporary plays) as well as for the techniques of chūnori (acting while suspended from the ceiling) and quick-changes (hayagawari).
These prints are two from a series that compared thirty-six popular actors to flowers. Like in many series printed in the Edo period, the use of thirty-six comparisons references the thirty-six poet immortals. The poet immortals were a set of illustrious historical figures prized for their poetic ability.
Mitate (literally meaning look and compare) images were usually indicated by the use of the word mitate in the title, though it sometimes was omitted and viewers were meant to puzzle it out. This genre often juxtaposed contemporary figures such as kabuki actors with historical figures such as the poet immortals. Edoites enjoyed these layered meanings and would have made the connection between this series and the poet immortals with relative ease.
Physical Description:
A man holds the head of a monster. The monster is red and has horns. The man looks away from the head. He wears a blue robe with white dots, and his hair is very short. Tiger lilies decorate the cartouche behind him.
Inscriptions: Tosei mitate sanjūroku kasen; Toyokuni ga (Artist's signature); inu 4, aratame (Censor's seal); Yorozuchō, Hiranoya (Publisher's seal)
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