Details
Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865)
The Actor Ichikawa Danjuro in the Role of Usui no Sadamitsu

Woodblock printed surimono, embellished with metallic gold and silver pigments, signed Gototei Kunisada ga, circa 1823, poem above by Hoshitei Masunari
Shikishiban surimono (21.3 x 18.7 cm.)
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Lot Essay

In this surimono the actor Ichikawa Danjuro VII is depicted standing defiantly, sword in hand, in the role of Usui no Sadamitsu in the play Yama mata yama hana no yamagatsu which was performed at the Ichimura Theatre in 11th month of 1823.

The poem reads

Ozora ni
habakari wa nashi de
misuji hiku
kasumi otoko zo
hitori me ni tatsu

Without a bit of fear
toward the heavens above,
this bold man appears
through three bands of haze
standing on top of the world.1

1. Sebastian Izzard, Kunisada's World, (New York, 1993), p. 86, no. 31.

For another impression of this design in the collection of the Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, object number 1933.4.1485, go to:
http://www.harvardartmuseums.org/art/208211

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