Ōtani Tomoemon V from the series Parody of Thirty-six Selected Beauties and Poems

Japanese Color Woodblock Print 

Ōtani Tomoemon V from the series

Parody of Thirty-six Selected Beauties and Poems 

by Toyohara Kunichika, 1867
Nakayama Genjūrō II as Udesuke from the series Edo meisho awase no uchi


IHL Cat. #1042

About This Print

The actor Ôtani Tomoemon V from the 1867 series of prints Parody of Thirty-six Selected Beauties and Poems.  This print is part of a group of at least thirty similarly designed prints bearing different series titles issued in 1867 by the same publisher, Gusokuya Kahei, six of which are shown below.  
 

 
 画題等:「三十六句せんの内」
細目題:  九郎はん官源よし経
配役:
 <2> 沢村 訥升
no date given
The Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum of Waseda University, 007-2601 
 
画題等:「三十六句撰の内」
細目題: 新中納言平とももり
配役: <5> 大谷 友右衛門
慶応03 (.1867)・07・
The Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum of Waseda University,
007-2602

 画題等:「三十六句せんの内」
細目題: 典侍のつぼね
配役: <5> 坂東 彦三郎
慶応03 (.1867)・07・
The Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum of Waseda University, 007-2603


画題等:「なそ合三十六句」
細目題:岩藤
配役: <4> 市村 家橘

慶応03 (.1867)

The Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum of Waseda University, 007-
0520
Yoshiwara beauties compared with thirty-six poems
The actor Ichimura Kakitsu IV as Iwafuji

画題等:「なそ合三十六句」
細目題: 松永大膳

配役: <4> 中村 芝翫
慶応03 (.1867)

The Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum of Waseda University, 007-
0514
 

 
画題等:「なそ合三十六句」
細目題: 新左衛門

配役:  <5> 大谷 友右衛門
慶応03 (.1867)

The Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum of Waseda University, 007-
0765

The Title Cartouche and Series Name

The reading of the series name in the title cartouche, shown left, is subject to interpretation, particularly because of the kanji character appearing second from the bottom, which is either obsolete or simply made up. The Tsubouchi Memorial Theater Museum used a ☆ as a stand-in for the character and the Tokyo Metropolitan Library substituted the characters 歌花.  In addition, the last character 選 is transcribed as 撰 in the TML database, making their transcription of the cartouche 見立三十六歌花撰.  The Tsubouchi transcription is 見立三十六☆選. The English translation I've come up is "Parody of Thirty-six Selected Beauties and Poems," but is subject to correction.
 












Print Details

 IHL Catalog #1042
 Title (Description)Parody of Thirty-six Selected Beauties and Poems (Ōtani Tomoemon V)
 見立三十六歌花撰 (見立三十六☆選) (<5> 大谷 友右衛門) 
[note: There is an untranscribable kanji character as explained above in the title cartouche.]
 Artist Toyohara Kunichika (1835–1900)
 Signature Kunichika ga 国周画
 Seal Toshidama 年玉
 Publication Date
1867 (Keiō 3), 4th month
 Publisher
seal reading Ningyōchō, Gusokuya 人形町具足屋 of the publisher
Gusokuya Kahei 具足屋嘉丙衛 [Marks: 24-031; publisher ref. 085]
 Carver
Hori Ei 彫栄 seal of Watanabe Eizō (1833-1901)
 Impression excellent
 Colors excellent
 Condition good - slightly uneven trimming bottom margin and along right edge; minor soiling and wrinkling
 Genre ukiyo-e - nigao-e; yakusha-e
 Miscellaneous 
 Format vertical oban triptych
 H x W Paper 
 14 3/4 x 9 7/8 in. (37.5 x 25.1 cm)
 Literature 
 
 Collections This Print
 Waseda University Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum 007-2616