Description:
vertical ōban, probably from a diptych or triptych; yakusha-e; benizuri-e
Label Text:
This print is signed at middle-left "Torii Kiyomitsu ga" ('drawn by Torii Kiyomitsu'). The actor and his role are identified by the text at upper-right. The publisher's seal, partially cropped, can be seen at lower-left in the horizontal cartouche.
The role of Soga Gorō occurs in many different kabuki plays, most famously "The Arrow Sharpener" ('Yanone') from which this scene is likely taken. However, this depiction conforms to traditional representations of Yanone Gorō, which are so standardized as to make a definitive attribution impossible at this time. This design in particular appears to be a re-working of a slightly earlier composition by Kiyomitsu, an example of which can be seen in the Honolulu Museum of Art (acc. no. 20501), which dates to 1758. Besides the textual inscription at top, this actor can be identified as belonging to the Ichimura line by his 'mon,' the actor's crest on his left shoulder. He has been deteremined to be Ichimura Uzaemon IX by the design of Iwatoya Genpachi's publisher's seal, which has been dated to 1765.
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=AC+2005.354 |
