Kunisada II (Toyokuni IV) 1823 - 1880, The Book of the Eight Dog Heroes: Seki Sanjuro Ill as Komiyama Ittota, 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. 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. Shamed and tricked into the conception, she decides to kill herself and the eight beads of her rosary, each representing a Buddhist virtue, become crystal orbs and disperse, the children being reborn to normal mothers sixteen years later. The plot twists and turns as the eight brothers become acquainted as adults. Each of the brothers possesses supernatural powers. The first act of the play shows the sometimes comical scenes of the brothers, none of whom know each other, becoming acquainted and then pledging to revive the fortunes of their family, the Satomi.
The set of novels is very long and immensely complex, dragging in plot-lines from many other sources. In this print, Kunisada II has drawn the actor Seki Sanjuro Ill as Komiyama Ittota. Almost nothing is written about this character. He is a retainer, an assassin — somewhat the opposite of Takanori, also shown in this selection.
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.
In this print, Kunisada II pictures the great actor Seki Sanjuro Ill as Komiyama Ittota. There is some very remarkable shomen-zuri… burnished patterns, within the cloak, only visible in a certain light. 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.
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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