Daruma’s Buffoonery

(Dôke Daruma asobi, 道外だるまけん)

Publisher: Hori Masa and Okaei

1847

After the imposition of a ban on actor prints in 1842, Kuniyoshi produced numerous humorous designs with thinly disguised actors’ portraits. In this series, well-known actors are portrayed as Daruma, without any mention of their names. Although these prints are treated as a series, their titles do vary. This series is listed as number 191 in Kuniyoshi by Basil William Robinson (Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1961). The prints in this series 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 section.

	Title: Comical Ken Game of Darumas (Dôke Daruma ken, 道化だるまけん) Description: Actors Nakamura Utaemon IV (right), Ichikawa Kuzô II (center) and Matsumoto Kôshirô VI (left) playing the game of ken Publisher: Hori Masa Text: さけはきんしゆでいろけまで やめるこゝろでみおきよめ びゝなるかべながめてくらしましよ それかんでものんでもざぜんまめ　ぼんさんが和朝へわたられて　それで法ぼうひろむる天　しうしおさァひろめよ
	I am grateful to Marc DeVriese for this variant with bokashi (gradual shading of color) on only one figure.
	Title: Daruma’s Buffoonery (Dôke Druma asobi, 道外だるまあそび) Description: Actors Ichimura Uzaemon XII (right), Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII (center) and Onoe Kikujirô II (left) Publisher: Okaei
	Title: Comical Daruma Games (dôgai daruma asobi, 道外だるま遊) Description: Actors Bandô Shûka (right), Sawamura Sôjûrô V (center) and Onoe Kikugorô III (left)
	Another state without any purple
	An additional state
	Title: Daruma’s Buffoonery (Dôke Druma asobi, 道外だるまあそび) Description: Actors Bandô Shûka I and Onoe Kikugorô III Publisher: Hori Masa NOTE: The background is probably the sacred Otawa waterfall at Kiyomizu-dera Temple
	An additional state
	Title: A Collection of Comical Daruma Gems (Doke Daruma tama zukushi, 道外だるま玉尽) Description: Publisher: Hori Masa NOTE: 又 おかぶ で (another in the usual style, mata okabu de) precedes Kuniyoshi’s signature. I am grateful to Marie de Strycker for this image.

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