Untitled series of one actor in many roles

1848

 

Each print in this series portrays one of the most popular kabuki actors of the day in several different roles.  The 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 assisting with this series.

 

 

Title: The Color of Plum Blossoms (Sonoura Baika no saishiki, 其裏梅花の彩色)

Actor: Nakamura Utaemon IV

Roles: Shikama Takubei (鹿間宅兵衛), 由良☆の助, ☆のこでべ蔵, Kamikumasaka Naganori? (熊坂長範), Shichibee Kagekiyo (七兵衛景清), 切竹武太夫, Hachirobee (八郎兵衛), Takagi Oriemon (高木折右衛門), 船頭☆兵衛, Otaka Tonomo (大高主殿), and 百姓弥作 

 

Another state of the above design

 

Title: The Color of Katsumi Flowers (wild rice) (Katsumigusabana no saishiki, 勝見艸花の彩色)

Actor: Bandô Shûka I

Roles: The heyakata (female servant) Ohatsu (召仕おはつ), 阿野の局, the apprentice Hisamatsu (丁稚久松), Hakata Kojorô (博多小女郎), ☆見のお秀, 大和屋の☆, Shizuka-gozen (静御前), the female servant Takekawa (奥女中竹川), musume Omitsu (娘おみつ), the blind Asagao (ごぜ朝かほ), and the geisha Kashiku (芸者かしく)

 

Title: The Color of the Peony (Fûkigusabana no saishiki, 冨貴艸花の彩色)

Actor: Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII

Roles: Ebizako no Ju (ゑひざこの十), Kamiya Iemon (神谷伊右衛門), Miyagi Asojiro (宮木阿曽次郎), Kezoni Kuemon (毛剃九右衛門), Shirojirô Motonobu (四郎次郎元信), Genkurô Yoshitsune (源九郎義経), Benkei (西☆弁慶), Jûrô Sukenari (十郎祐成), Fuwa Banzaemon (不破伴左衛門), the tobacco seller Genshichi (煙草屋源七), and Nan Yohei (南与兵衛) 

 

Another state of the above design

 

Title: The Color of the Winter Chrysanthemum (Kangikubana no saishiki, 寒菊花の彩色)

Actor: Sawamura Sôjûrô V

Roles: 呉服や重兵エ, 菅丞相, Saemon (重ノ井新左衛門), Kingorô (鳶の金五郎), Saemon (☆左衛門), priest Karukaya Doshin (萱道心), Toneri Matsuômaru (舎人松王丸), Ohatsu (おはつ), Saemon (佐野源左衛門), Kudô Saemon Suketsune (工藤祐経), Satsuma Gengobei (さつま源五兵衛), and a child actor as Ishidô Maru (石童丸)     

 

Another state of the above design with different colors and lacking censors’ seals

 

Title: The Color of Orange Blossoms (Na no tachibana no saishiki, 名の橘花の彩色)

Actor: Ichimura Uzaemon XII

Roles: 藤泉卿, Takenoshin (竹之進), 橘の九平坊, Nanpô Jûjibei (南方十次兵衛), 白拍子亀松, Kudo Saemon (工藤左衛門祐経), Nagoya Sanza Motoharu (名古屋山三元春), Yokogawa Kakuhan (横川覚範), Princess Yaegaki (八重垣), Dôguya Jinza (道具屋甚三), and Takechi Jûjirô (武知十次郎)  

 

Although not part of the above series, this print published by Kawaguchi-ya Shôzô c. 1828 portrays the actor Ichikawa Komazô V as Ushiwakamaru (牛若丸), Gengobei (源五兵衛), Sangobei (三五兵衛), Kisanta (喜三太), and as ☆ヶ谷

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