Honour in a Loyal Death: the Great Fire at the Hosokawa Residence

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"細川家大火忠死誉"

Kōchōrō, Kunisada [Utagawa, Kunisada III (illustrated by)]; Kawatake, Shinshichi III [original play by].

Nihonbashi, [Tōkyō] : Fukuda Kumajirō, Meiji 22 [1889].

A triptych by Utagawa Kunisada III (1848–1920) depicting the most famous scene from the kabuki play Tsutamoyō Chizome no Goshuin (蔦模様血染御書, “The Ivy-Patterned Bloodstained Seal”) by kyōgen dramatist Kawatake Shinshichi III (1842-1901), chief playwright of the Ichimura-za theatre in Tōkyō. This play is believed to have first been performed in November, Meiji 22 (1889), at the Ichimura-za. The story follows the tragic relationship of the samurai Ōkawa Tomoemon and the Hosokawa family servant Innan Kazuma. This triptych depicts the decisive moment in which Ōkawa, played by Ichikawa Sadanji, cuts open his stomach in order to protect the Hosokawa family’s treasure, a seal stamped by the shōgun himself.

Ōban nishiki-e. Three loose prints, complete, backed with paper inscribed in brush and ink. Extremities trimmed. Crease to right extremity of leftmost print. Minor pigment discrepancies. Each print measures approximately 36.1 x 23.2 cm.

Honour in a Loyal Death: the Great Fire at the Hosokawa Residence
Price: $865.00 (USD)