Untitled series of actors’ busts

Publisher: Fujioka-ya Hikotarô

1839-1840

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.

	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 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
	At first glance, this print appears the same as the one above, but the poem 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 (筑前守久吉) and Bandô Katsujirô as Teruwaka (輝若君, child) Play: Go hiiki yakko no konoshita Date: 7^th month of 1840 Theater: Ichimura
	I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this hanshita-e (final drawing) for the above design.
	Probably a preparatory drawing for the above print, courtesy of Robert Pryor
	Actor: Bandô Shûka I as the kamuro Tayori Play: Go hiiki yakko no konoshita Date: 7^th month of 1840 Theater: Ichimura
	Actor: Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Azuma no Yoshirô Play: Go hiiki yakko no konoshita Date: 7^th month of 1840 Theater: Ichimura
	Actor: Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Hachimantaro Yoshiie Play: Oshu Adachigahara Date: 9^th month of 1839 Theater: Kawarasaki
	Actor: Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Harunaga (春永) Play: Go hiiki yakko no konoshita (御贔屓梶虎木下) Date: 7^th month of 1840 Theater: Ichimura NOTE: This print appears to have been made by recarving the woodblocks for the previous print. I am grateful to Marc DeVriese for this image.
	Another state of the above design
	Actor: Actor Nakamura Utaemon IV as Naniwa no Jirôsaku Play: Go hiiki yakko no konoshita (御贔屓梶虎木下) Date: 7^th month of 1840 Theater: Ichimura
	Actor: Sawamura Tosshô I as Komatsuya Sôshichi Print title: The Good Ship Full House (Ôiri-maru, 大入丸) Play: Koi no Minato Hakata no hitofushi Date: 8^th month of 1840 Theater: Ichimura I am grateful to Marc DeVriese for this image.
	Actor: Seki Sanjûrô II as Konishi Chosuke (小西) Play: Date: Theater:
	Actor: Arashi Kichisaburô III as Satô Masakiyo Play: Gion Sairei Shinkôki (祇園祭礼信仰記) Theater: Nakamura Date: 8^th month of 1840

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