Shunkōsai Hokushū (春好斎北洲) (artist ca 1808 – 1832)

Nakamura Utaemon III (中村歌右衛門) as the apprentice Igo (伊吾) of the Amakawaya (天川屋) in the play Ōishizuri sakura tanzaku [大石摺桜花短冊]

Print

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Date:03/10/1822
Dimensions:9.875 in x 14.625 in (Overall dimensions) Medium:Japanese woodblock print
Inscription:Signed: Shunkōsai Hokushū ga
春好斎北洲画
Publishers: Honya Seishichi (Marks 123 - seal 25-527)
and Yamaichi (Marks U438 - seal 25-220)
Links Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
The National Museum of Asian Art
Lyon Collection - Yoshikuni version of this same performance
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston - an 1866 Kunichika representation of this character
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston - an 1866 Kunisada II triptych including this character
Hankyu Culture Foundation
British Museum - a similar print from 1825 by Yoshikuni
Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen (Rijksmuseum Volkenkunde, Leiden) via Ritsumeikan University Description:This print commemorates a performance of Ōishizuri Sakura Tanzaku at the Naka Theater in Osaka in the 3rd month of 1822.

Osaka Prints tells us a bit about this play, which is quite a feat considering how little we know of it.

This play and production was a big hit and proved to be a popular subject for a number of artists. Although the plot for Ôishizuri sakura tanzaku (Ôishi’s stone rubbing, a poem card, and flowering cherry: 大西摺桜花短冊) remains unknown, some role names (such as the virtuous wives Oishi and Osono, or Okaru's brother, Teraoka Heiemon) inscribed on prints by several artists for this production suggest that the story line was adapted from the most famous of all revenge plays, Kanadehon chûshingura (Copybook of the Treasury of Loyal Retainers: 假名手本忠臣蔵). Prints by Hokushû, Shunchô, and Yoshikuni for this performance further identify Utaemon's role of the wine-shop merchant (天川や) as Amakawaya Igo (later called Yatô Yomoshichi). Utaemon also performed as Tashirô Yasubei (a.k.a. the servant Yasuke).

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There are two versions of this performance in the Lyon Collection. The other one is by Yoshikuni. Schwaab wrote: "This Hokushū version, published by Honsei, has the added luster of the crane-form cartouche symbolizing Utaemon and a poem signed by the actor himself with an elaborate seal."

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Illustrated:

1) in color in Ikeda Bunko, Kamigata yakusha-e shūsei (Collected Kamigata Actor Prints), vol. 1, Ikeda Bunko Library, Osaka, 1997, #123.

2) in color in Osaka Prints by Dean J. Schwaab, Rizzoli, 1989, page 88, #49.

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The text may read: 「家業の徳にやめつらしき御方に拝顔奉て」「唐人に寝言の芸をみせさきてちんふんかんふんわけてしれまし　芝翫

A loose translation using Google is:

"I bow to someone who seems to be obsessed with the virtues of the family business."

"I showed the Chinese people the art of sleep talking and they tore me to pieces."

Shikan
Related entities Honya Seishichi (本屋清七) (publisher)
actor prints (yakusha-e - 役者絵) (genre)
Kyōto-Osaka prints (kamigata-e - 上方絵) (genre)
Nakamura Utaemon III (三代目中村歌右衛門) (actor)
Chūshingura (忠臣蔵 - 47 Rōnin) (genre)

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