Toyohara KUNICHIKA (1835-1900)

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A vertical triptych showing Onoe Kikugoro as Okiku’s ghost; Ichikawa Danjuro IX as the daimyo Aoyama Tessan, and Onoe Kikujiro V and Onoe Matsusuke V as his retainers in the play Sarayashi kesho no sugatami, “Mirror of the House of Blue Dishes.” Performed at the Kabuki-za Theatre, 10/1892. There are two versions of the story: In one, the mistress of the house breaks a valuable blue and white Dutch plate, hiding it in a well and blaming the maid-servant Okiku, who then commits suicide in the well. In the other, Okiku refuses to become Aoyama’s mistress who hides the plate and threatens to accuse her of theft. She throws herself into the well. But in both cases Okiku’s ghost comes back to haunt Aoyama. Published by Fukuda Kumajiro, 1892.

Very fine impression and colour. Very small nicks out of top margin, otherwise fine condition. Full, untrimmed size. Signed Toyohara Kunichika hitsu.

Status: Sold