Utagawa Kunisada II (二代歌川国貞) (artist 1823 – 1880)
Portrait of Ichikawa Kuzō III (市川九蔵) as Danshichi Kurobei (団七力郎兵衛)
05/1867
9.75 in x 14.25 in (Overall dimensions) color woodblock print
Signed Kunisada hitsu (国貞筆)
Artist's seal: toshidama
Publisher: Mikawaya Denbei ?
Combined censor/date seal: aratame and 1867, 5th month
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston - an 1866 Kunichika print of Kawarazaki Gonjūrō I as Danshichi in a very similar pose
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston - an 1832 Kunisada diptych with Danshichi in a similar pose In this dramatic pose Danshichi is poised or has just stabbed his evil father-in-law Goheiji while holding his sword behind his back.
An actor in the role of Danshichi Kurobei, heavily tattooed with lion and peonies.
The identification of the publisher as Mikawaya Denbei is a bit of a problem. The seal that appears on the print is found in Marks, but only for an unknown publisher of Utamaro prints from ca. 1805. This print dates from more than 60 years later. Also, we do not recall how this original attribution to this particular publishing name was made. The name of this publishing house does not appear anywhere but on this site. Further research is necessary.
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The karashishi-botan (唐獅子牡丹) motif
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Maude Rex Allen wrote in 1917 in Japanese Art Motives on page 29: "The peony was brought to Japan in the eighth century from China, where it is one of the plants of the four seasons - the flower of summer. As an art motive, Japan is indebted to Korea for the wonderful variety of adaptation in showing this gorgeous flower."
"Because of the size and beauty of its crimson blossoms, the peony is an emblem of regal power. It is associated with the kara-shishi or Chinese lion - the king of beasts and the king of flowers. Another interpretation of this combination is given:"
In art, the peony is represented among the rocks with kara-shishi, a Chinese association, known as the botanni-kara-shishi, which may illustrate the theory of the survival of the fittest, for it is said that of the cubs which fall to the ground amongst the bushes of the peony, only the strongest succeed in rejoining their mother by climbing the rocks and thus attaining maturity." Allen is citing J. L. Bowes's book, Japanese Pottery on page 495.
Danshichi Kurobei (団七九郎兵衛) (role)
Ichikawa Kuzō III (三代目市川九蔵: 8/1854-June 1897) (actor)
Tattoo (genre)
actor prints (yakusha-e - 役者絵) (genre)