Kunisada II (Toyokuni IV) 1823 - 1880, The Book of the Eight Dog Heroes: Arashi Rikaku II as Kanamari Daisuke Takanori, 1852. Oban.
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This stunning kabuki portrait is by the lesser known Kunisada II. The print is from his finest series: Hakkenden inu no soshi no uchi ("Book of The Eight Dog Heroes"). Originally a novel which took thirty years to complete, the story was quickly turned into a popular kabuki play from which this series is derived.
The complex plot narrates the story of the eight offspring of a
supernatural marriage between a princess — Princess Fuse — and her
father’s dog, (Yatsufusa). The prologue shows the demise of Princess
Fuse, the beautiful daughter of a 15th-century warlord who was slain by
his wicked regent, Yamashita Sakuzaemon Sadakane. Princess Fuse had
conceived during a mysterious union with her father's dog, Yatsufusa,
and the resulting offspring are shown as eight green crystal balls
issuing from her body. Each ball contains one Chinese character denoting
a Confucian principle, such as JIN (benevolence) and GI
(righteousness), and they disperse into the air; the spirits they embody
will be born as human babies in eight different families.
Sixteen years later Kanamari Daisuke
Takanori, a former retainer of Princess Fuse's father and the slayer of
the dog Yatsufusa, begins a search for the eight children, who all have
the character inu (dog) in their surnames. The fantastic story of his quest unfolds in the succeeding scenes.
The portrait of Arashi Rikaku II as Kanamari Daisuke Takanori, shown here, recalls an earlier scene in the kabuki
drama. After the princess decides on her self imposed exile, taking the
wicked supernatural dog, Yatsufusa with her, Takanori decides to follow
the exiled pair and assassinate the dog. One evening while en route,
Yatsufusa enters a nearby river; two shots ring out and the dog falls,
mortally wounded. The second shot goes astray and the bullet enters
Princess Fuse and she collapses dying. Pleased with the execution of the
dog, Takanori next finds the lifeless body of the princess. Distraught,
he prepares to kill himself when an arrow pierces his arm. He is saved
by Yoshizane, the Princess’s father and after releasing the eight
magical balls of light Princess Fuse finally dies. The remainder of the
play recounts the efforts of the eight brothers to reconnect with each
other and their varied adventures to restore the good name of the Satomi
family.
The last act of the kabuki
drama, which was wildly popular with audiences, involves the brothers
assembling at an inn and defeating a gigantic flying cat. The
performances utilised all of the latest special effects to bring to life
the aerial combat between the brothers and the transformed witch.
Kunisada II is a slightly tragic figure. He married Kunisada I’s
daughter and became the head of the Utagawa School after his father in
law’s death. This series is really his best work and has always been
solidly collectible, bearing comparison with the best of Kunisada’s
theatre prints. All of the prints have the striking multi coloured
cartouche containing the series title. Here, Kunisada II pictures the
great actor Arashi Rikaku II as Kanamari Daisuke Takanori at night,
holding the musket with which he has shot the dog, Yatsufusa and the
princess… the red flash still smoking in the flintlock. The modelling of
the shadows and the handling of light and shade is extremely good, this
is a brilliant and striking theatre print from the height of the
success of the Utagawa School. A copy of this print is in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Colour, impression, quality of block cutting and printing are
outstandingly good. The colours are rich and deep. A perfect example of
Utagawa printing at its height.
Publisher: Tsutaya Kichizô (Kôeidô).
38cm x 25cm.
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