Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861) Scene from the Play, Imoseyama Onna Teikin ("An Example of Womanly Virtue") 1849. Oban Triptych.
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This print from the alarming conspiracy play Imoseyama Onna Teikin, is interesting primarily because of stage craft… The print shows the two characters, Onoe Baiko IV as Koshitsu Sadaka, left and Sawamura Chojuro V as Daihanji on either side of a river, symbolising the separateness of their two clans or houses. The son and daughter of these two characters fall in love, not realising that they are from warring families on either side of the Yoshino River… pictured here dividing the print.
Because of the two stage assistants and the flattened space, I at first assumed that this was a bunraku, or puppet print. These puppets were often life size and manipulated by shady background puppeteers. This river scene appears in act III. A fierce clan leader, Iruka, fears that these two rival clans may be plotting against him. He summons Daihanji to Sadaka's late husband's palace and confronts the two rival parents. He orders Koganosuke to become his retainer and Hinadori to serve in his bed chamber. He gives them branches of cherry blossoms to be thrown into the Yoshino river as a signal of the answers of the two young people. Daihanji and Sadaka, (pictured here), Koganosuke’s father and Hinadori's mother, arrive with the ultimatums from Lord Iruka. Rather than submit, Koganosuke and Hinadori choose to die on the spot. Seeing their children's sacrifice, Daihanji and Sadaka reconcile their former feud, and Sadaka sends the severed head of Hinadori across the water to the expiring Koganosuke so the two young people may be united in death.
We see two stage assistants holding cherry branches just behind the main actors, the cunning stage set river with flowing water divides the two.
A very interesting print by the great Kuniyoshi that shows very clear stage apparatus. Colour, impression and condition very good. Unbacked.
Published by: Hon-ya Naoshichi.
51 x 37 cm.
