The Rat and the Fine Patterned New Spring Fashion: Ichikawa Kodanji IV as Kōzō Disguised as Takashima Beizan, Onoe Kikugorō IV as Courtesan Matsuyama, and an Unidentified Child Actor as Kamuro Midori
Utagawa Kunisato
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).
Onoe Kikugorō IV was active from 1831 until 1860, just prior to his death. He was a member of the Onoe line of kabuki actors. The Onoe line is one of the oldest lines of actors, with more than 250 years of history.
Physical Description:
A man holds an umbrella over a woman and child. The woman kneels on the ground, looking anxiously off to her right. She wears a red striped robe with green or blue edging. The man has bare feet and wears a short blue and white striped robe. The sky is dark, and white flakes or rain appear to fall.
Inscriptions: Takashima Beizan; Matsuyama; Kunisato ga (Artist's signature); Bakuro Yon, Kiyahan (Publisher's seal); aratame, mi 3 (Censors' seal)
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