About This Print

The actors Bandō Takesaburō I [(初代)坂東竹三郎] and Bandō Shūka I [(初代)坂東しうか] (R); Ichikawa Danjūrō VIII [(八代目)市川団十郎] (C); Iwai Kumesaburō III [(三代目)岩井粂三郎] and Nakamura Fukusuke I [(初代)中村福助] (L) pictured against a background of wisteria.  The subtle transitions of shade and color in the robes is quite impressive.



A different, and likely unpublished, state of this print in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, is shown below.  It does not carry a publisher's seal and while the left panel carries the Hori Takichi engraver seal, as on this collection's print, neither the center or right panels carry this seal.

The Actors Pictured in This Collection's Print

For profiles of the actors depicted in this print please see the article The Kabuki Actor.

Print Details

IHL Catalog	#675
Title	Actors Bandō Takesaburō I (初代)坂東竹三郎, Bandō Shūka I (初代)坂東しうか (R), Ichikawa Danjūrō VIII (八代目)市川団十郎 (C), Iwai Kumesaburō III (三代目)岩井粂三郎, and Nakamura Fukusuke I (初代)中村福助 (L)
Series	n/a
Artist	Utagawa Kunisada I (1786–1865)
Signature	Ichiyōsai Toyokuni ga 一陽斎豊国画 inside of Toshidama cartouche 年玉枠
Seal
Publication Date	Left most seal: date seal reading 嘉二 1854 (Kaei 7/Ansei 1), 2nd month Right most seal: aratame 改 censor seal
Publisher	板元, 井筒屋 Hanmoto, Izutsuya seal of Izutsuya Shōkichi [Marks: 24-055; Publisher ref. no. 188]
Carver	彫多吉 Hori Takichi seal of Ōtaya Takichi (d. 1882)
Impression	excellent
Colors	excellent
Condition	good - slightly rubbed and soiled; minor ink offsetting on right panel; several wormholes repaired from back
Genre	ukiyo-e; yakusha-e
Miscellaneous
Format	oban triptych
H x W Paper	14 x 9 3/4 (35.6 x 24.8 cm) each sheet
Collections This Print	Museum of Fine Arts, Boston 11.44149a-c
Reference Literature