• Sawamura Sōjūrō IV [四代目沢村宗十郎], viewing a playbill, i.e., a ranking list of kabuki actors [顔見世番付を見る図]
Sawamura Sōjūrō IV [四代目沢村宗十郎], viewing a playbill, i.e., a ranking list of kabuki actors [顔見世番付を見る図]
Sawamura Sōjūrō IV [四代目沢村宗十郎], viewing a playbill, i.e., a ranking list of kabuki actors [顔見世番付を見る図]
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Utagawa Toyokuni I (初代歌川豊国) (artist 1769 – 02/24/1825)

Sawamura Sōjūrō IV [四代目沢村宗十郎], viewing a playbill, i.e., a ranking list of kabuki actors [顔見世番付を見る図]

Print

11/01/1811
10 in x 15 in (Overall dimensions) Signed: Toyokuni ga (豊国画)
1st poem signed by Shikitei Samba
(式亭三馬) with his round red seal
Publisher: Ue (Marks U356 seal: 06-018)
Waseda
Lyon Collection - Toyokuni I print of Gennosuke I wearing his actor's crest
Edo-Tokyo Museum It has been proposed that this print was produced to honor the name change of Sawamura Gennosuke I to Sawamura Sōjūrō IV in 1811, a year before this actor died.

The first part of the text on this print was written by Shikitei Samba (式亭三馬: 1776-1822). It reads:
訥子さんの
出勤を
今やおそしと
まちたまへる
御贔屓の人々
にかはりて

式亭三馬
The second part on the left was composed by the actor himself using his poetry name Tosshi:
香をこめて
室にあるとも
春またぬは
や咲出よ

花の兄さま
Loosely translated it reads: "On behalf of the fans who are anxiously awaiting Tosshi's comeback and success as the elder brother of another popular actor Tanosuke"

****

Illustrated:

1) in color in Japanese Woodblock Prints: Artists, Publishers and Masterworks 1680-1900 by Andreas Marks, Tuttle, 2010, page 96.

2) in a small color reproduction in Heroes of the Kabuki Stage by Arendie and Henk Herwig, Hotei Publishing, 2004, #25, page 36.
Sawamura Sōjūrō IV (四代目沢村宗十郎: from 11/1811 to 12/1812) (actor)
actor prints (yakusha-e - 役者絵) (genre)