About This Print

Theactor Kawarazaki Gonjūrō¹ 河原崎　権十郎 in the role of Matsunaga Daizen 松永大膳 on the right (matched with the sign of the dragon 辰) and the actor Onoe Kikugorō V 尾上　菊五郎 in the role of Keisei (courtesan) Ayame けいせいあやめ on the left (matched with the sign of the snake 巳.)

¹ Kawarazaki Gonjūrō was the stage name of Ichikawa Danjūrō IX from September 1852 to February 1869.

The Actors Pictured

For information on the actors pictured in this print see The Kabuki Actor.

The Six Prints in the Series

Rat 子 and Ox 丑 The actors Nakamura Shikan IV and Bandō Mitsugurō

Tiger 寅 and Hare 卯  The actors Kawarazaki Sanshō and Nakamura Sōjurō IHL Cat. #1302

Horse 午 and Ram 未 The actors Sawamura Tosshō II and Ichikawa Sadanji IHL Cat. #568

Monkey 申 and Bird 酉 The actors Sawamura Tosshō II and Sawamura Tanosuke III

Dog 戌 and Boar 亥 The actors Nakamura Shikan IV  and Onoe Kikugorō V

Dragon 辰 and Snake 巳 The actors Kawarazaki Sanshō and Onoe Kikugorō V IHL Cat. #776

Print Details

IHL Catalog	#776
Title (Description)	Dragon and Snake (辰 巳)
Series	A comparison of actors with the 12 signs of the zodiac  Haiyū mitate jūnishi 俳優見立十二支
Artist	Toyohara Kunichika (1835–1900)
Signature	Kunichika hitsu with toshidama seal
Seal	toshidama seal
Publication Date	巳二改 aratame snake 2  February 1869
Publisher	Dobashi Masadaya han 土橋政田屋 版; trade name Masadaya Heikichi   [Marks: seal 25-448; pub. ref. 302]
Carver	彫長 Horichō
Impression	excellent
Colors	excellent
Condition	good - unbacked; full size; wrinkling throughout; pinhole in hair of character in lower right; minor soiling
Genre	ukiyo-e; nigao-e; yakusha-e; mitate
Miscellaneous
Format	vertical oban
H x W Paper	14 3/8 x 9 3/4 in. (36.5 x 24.8 cm)
Literature
Collections This Print	The Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum Waseda University 100-5621; Tokyo Metropolitan Library 5714-C137-02