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Subject:Questions about Kunimasa comic print
Posted By: MichaelO Wed, Jan 29, 2025 IP: 73.42.245.19

Attached is a print signed, I think, Kunimasa gihitsu (國政戲筆). Aside from a Toshidama seal no other marks appear on the print. The print has been trimmed; it measures 35cm x 23.3cm so a publishers mark or censor’s seal may have been removed.

I am trying to determine the subject matter of the print and if it is part of a larger multi-sheet print. The composition of the print does not suggest a second sheet as the people depicted do not all face the same direction off sheet. Perhaps the child pointing suggests another sheet to the right? If anyone is aware of another sheet to this print I’d like to hear that. I know it’s a long shot.

Lastly, what are the figures talking about? Perhaps that will help determine if this is a multi sheet print.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thank you


Link :https://data.ukiyo-e.org/uploads/images/e1946768-8aa7-455b-bc5d-03ae5b78f66c.jpg


Subject:Re: Questions about Kunimasa comic print
Posted By: MichaelO Mon, Feb 03, 2025

Here is the print rather than the link.



Subject:Re: Questions about Kunimasa comic print
Posted By: lucienne parkan Tue, Feb 04, 2025

Michael

This is probably far fetched... but it's a start

If you have a look at the lower left hand corner you'll notice (souvenir)

成田山 Naritasan (yama)

and people (visitors) seem to be praying (nonsense)

Here are some links which might be of interest
https://www.naritasan.or.jp/about/hajimari/ (image 3)
https://www.yamada-shoten.com/english/detail.php?item_id=59022
https://dcollections.lib.keio.ac.jp/en/bon-ukiyoe/004/136
https://www.yamada-shoten.com/onlinestore/detail.php?item_id=45840
https://www.edohakuarchives.jp/detail-8391.html

This might be a vertical diptych

Subject:Re: Questions about Kunimasa comic print
Posted By: MichaelO Tue, Feb 04, 2025

Luciene--

Thank you for that information. This print was put up for sale amidst a large group of prints regarding the suicide of Danjuro VIII so your identification of the reference to Narita-san makes a lot of sense. Perhaps the Kunimasa is part of a vertical diptych about Danjuro VIII? I have yet to find a diptych incorporating this panel. I will keep looking.

Thank you again for locating the reference to Narita-san. Your eyes are sharper than mine.

Michael


Subject:Re: Questions about Kunimasa comic print
Posted By: lucienne parkan Wed, Feb 05, 2025

Michael,

I agree that the Ichikawa clan (Naritaya guild) has very close ties with Naritasan, dating back to Ichikawa Danjuro I (1697).

It's unlikely that Ichikawa Danjuro VIII is the subject of the print as he died in 1854 and Kunimasa was born in 1848
https://pages.uoregon.edu/jsmacollections/home/artists/utagawa-kunimasa-iv-1848-1920.html

The actor who could correspond to the period is Kawarasaki, who in 1874 took the name of Ichikawa Danjuro IX.
In May 1883: Danjûrô played at the Ichimuraza the role of the deity Fudô Myôô, an important symbol for the Naritaya guild, in the drama "Hashi Kuyô Bonji no Mongaku".

If you're lucky Imrun Nagy might translate some of the texts.

Subject:Re: Questions about Kunimasa comic print
Posted By: MichaelO Wed, Feb 05, 2025

Thank you Lucienne--

I feel foolish for not checking the dates for Kunimasa IV. I appreciate you pointing out the wrong path I was headed down.

I will keep looking for additional information. Thank you again for all your help.

Michael


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