Toyohara Kunichika (1835-1900) The Actor Ichikawa Danjuro IX as Musume Omiwa, from the series One Hundred Roles of Ichikawa Danjuro, 1898. Oban.
This is a terrific deluxe print from the famous series commemorating the hundred best roles of the famous kabuki actor Ichikawa Danjuro IX. In this print Danjuro plays the young Omiwa from the play Imoseyama Onna Teikin, about the Taika coup d’etat of 645. The plot centres around love, suicide and palace intrigue. Omiwa is the daughter of a saki shop owner who is in love with Tankei, a hero and warrior who is protecting the elderly Emperor. Through intrigue, Tankei marries the princess Tachibana. Omiwa, tormented by jealousy is killed so that her blood may be used in a potion to assassinate the tyrant Iruka. Her reward is that she may be united with Tankei in the afterlife.
Omiwa is pictured with a spool of white cotton that she has attached to Tankei in order to follow him and discover his real identity.
A beautiful print on deluxe paper with extensive shimmering mica and embossing. Full size with margins, very fine colour, impression and condition.
