Untitled series of actors’ busts

Publisher: Fujioka-ya Hikotarô

1840

In this series of prints, bust portraits of actors in character are portrayed against a background of solid color that darkens at the top of the sheet. Above each actor’s heads is a small image of an object associated with the character and a cartouche containing a poem. Although the poem-containing cartouches vary in shape, they each have the same wave-like pattern of color on an unpigmented background. This series is not listed in Kuniyoshi by Basil William Robinson (Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1961). The prints are each about 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size known as ôban. I am grateful to Robert Pryor for his contributions to this series.

	Actor: Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Hachimantaro Yoshiie Play: Oshu Adachigahara Date: 9^th month of 1839 Theater: Kawarasaki Poet: Umeya Kakuju (梅屋鶴寿) NOTE: This print appears to be a precursor to the series. It has neither a publisher’s seal nor a poem cartouche.
	Actor: Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Harunaga (春永) Play: Go hiiki yakko no konoshita (御贔屓梶虎木下) Date: 8^th month of 1840 Theater: Ichimura Poet: Umeya Kakuju (梅屋鶴寿) NOTE: This print appears to have been made by recarving the woodblocks for the previous print with a different poem. I am grateful to Marc DeVriese for this image.
	Another state of the above design
	Actor: Ichikawa Ebizô V as the pirate Kezori Kuemon (毛剃九右衛門) Play: Koi minata Hakata no hitouchi (恋湊博多諷, Love at Sea) Date: 8^th month of 1840 Theater: Ichimura Poet: He appears self-confident in a costume incorporating both Japanese and European elements. The kyôka poem is by Murota Matabei (noms de plume Umeya Kakuju, 梅屋鶴寿) and translates as: Kuemon’s speech on the revolving stage rings sinister while making a good appearance
	Another state
	At first glance, this print appears the same as the one above, but the poem, by Rokudaen Futaba (六朶園二葉), in the cartouche bordered by red coral is entirely different.
	This is a preparatory drawing for the above two prints
	Actor: Nakamura Utaemon IV as Mashiba Hisayoshi (ましば久吉) and Bandô Katsujirô as Teruwaka (てる若, child) Play: Go hiiki yakko no konoshita Date: 8^th month of 1840 Theater: Ichimura Poet: Umeya Kakuju (梅屋鶴寿)
	Another state with blue in text cartouche
	A hanshita-e (final drawing) for the above design
	Probably a preparatory drawing for the above print
	Actor: Bandô Shûka I as the kamuro Tayori (かむろ たより) Play: Go hiiki yakko no konoshita Date: 8^th month of 1840 Theater: Ichimura Poet: Rokudaen Futaba (六朶園二葉)
	Actor: Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Azuma no Yoshirô (吾妻の与四郎) Play: Go hiiki yakko no konoshita Date: 8^th month of 1840 Theater: Ichimura Poets: Rokudaen Futaba (六朶園二葉) and Momozono Michiko (桃園三千子)
	Actor: Actor Nakamura Utaemon IV as Naniwa no Jirôsaku (浪花二郎作) Play: Go hiiki yakko no konoshita (御贔屓梶虎木下) Date: 8^th month of 1840 Theater: Ichimura Poet: Rokudaen Futaba (六朶園二葉)
	Actor: Sawamura Tosshô I as Komatsuya Sôshichi (小松屋宗七) Print title: Good Ship Full House, as in sold out performance (Ôiri-maru, 大入丸) Play: Koi no Minato Hakata no hitofushi Date: 8^th month of 1840 Theater: Ichimura Poet: I am grateful to Marc DeVriese for this image.
	Another state with solid blue clouds and bokashi (shading) on the ship’s sail
	Another state of the above design
	Actor: Seki Sanjûrô III as Konishi Zesai (小西是斎) Play: Gion Sairei Shinkôki (祇園祭礼信仰記) Theater: Nakamura Date: 8^th month of 1840 Poet: Rokudaen Futaba (六朶園二葉)
	Actor: Arashi Kichisaburô III as Satô Masakiyo (佐藤政清) Play: Gion Sairei Shinkôki (祇園祭礼信仰記) Theater: Nakamura Date: 8^th month of 1840 Poet: Rokudaen Futaba (六朶園二葉)

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