Utagawa Kuniyoshi

1797-1861

Songs for Spring Worth One Thousand Gold Coins
(Shun ei, atai sen kin)

signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga with artist's Toshidama seal, censor's seal kiwame and publisher's seal of Izumiya Ichibei, ca. 1829-1830

oban tate-e pentaptych 14 7/8 by 49 3/4 in., 37.8 by 126.3 cm

From right to left: the beautiful onnagata Iwai Shijaku I (Iwai Hanshiro VII, 1804-1845) is seated beside Ichikawa Hakuen II (Ichikawa Danjuro II, 1791-1859, who held this name from the 5th lunar month of 1829 to the 7th lunar month of 1830 while performing in Osaka and elsewhere) playing a flute, the young Ichimura Kakitsu III (Ichimura Takenojo V, 1812-1851) plays a drum held up to his shoulder, while Nakamura Kanjaku I (Utaemon IV, 1796-1852) beats a larger drum held at his hip, and Arashi Rikan II (1788-1837), who spent much of his career in Osaka or with a traveling troupe, uses mallets to beat a drum mounted on a stand.

Reference:
The Kuniyoshi Project, Polyptychs of Four or More Sheets, Part I (kuniyoshiproject.com)

(inv. no. 10-5387a)

price: $1,500