Utagawa Kunikazu (歌川国員) (artist )

Onoe Tamizō II (尾上多見蔵) as Ishikawa Goemon (石川五右衛門) riding an eagle from the series Birds and Flowers, Wind and Moon [Kachō fūgetsu no uchi - 花鳥風月ノ内] - Bird (鳥)

Print

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Date:01/1858
Dimensions:6.875 in x 9.5 in (Overall dimensions) Medium:Japanese woodblock print
Inscription:Signed (in metallic ink): Kunikazu (国員)
Links Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Ritsumeikan University
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston - 'Flowers' from the same or a similar series by Kunikazu
British Museum Description:The publisher is said to be Ishikawaya Wasuke (Marks 163).

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The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston dates this print to 1/1858 and relates it to the play Keisei Setsugekka (けいせい雪月花), while Ritsumeikan University gives the date of 1/1866. The Setsugekka of the title traditionally means 'Snow, moon, flowers'.

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A similar related print from a series by the same title, by this artist - also in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston - illustrates the 'Flowers' part. The title cartouche is basically the same as the example in the Lyon Collection, but the date they give is 1860, two years later. Not only that, but the kabuki play they link it to is different and so is the theater. [See the links above. We would also like to thank E. Pieters for bringing this print and the one of 'Wind' at Ritsumeikan University to our attention.]
Related entities magicians (mahōtsukai - 魔法使い) (genre)
actor prints (yakusha-e - 役者絵) (genre)
Kyōto-Osaka prints (kamigata-e - 上方絵) (genre)
Onoe Tamizō II (二代目尾上多見蔵: 11/1820-1848; 1850-November, 1885) (actor)
Ishikawaya Wasuke (石川屋和助) (publisher)

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