Toyohara Kunichika (1835-1900) Ichimura Uzaemon XIII as the Little Fox Reiza, 1865. Oban.
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A very beautiful print by Kunichika of the rascal and bandit known as the Little Fox Reiza… here played by Ichimura Uzaemon XIII. Little Fox Reiza ("Kogitsune Reiza") appears in the kabuki play Koharunagi Okitsu Shiranami (commonly called Kogitsune Reiza), which premiered in 1864. The plot revolves around a group of thieves and the character Reiza is an otokodate (a chivalrous commoner gang leader), not an actual magical fox. The character was famously performed by the actor Ichimura Uzaemon XIII. Although Reiza is a common man, the nickname suggests his cunning nature.
As with many such kabuki dramas, the full plot of the play is complex, but its general theme, typical of the shiranami-mono ("bandit plays") genre, involves the exploits of thieves and outlaws trying to be chivalrous but falling foul of the law. Reiza is one of the main otokodate characters, part of a gang of charismatic bandits. The nickname "Little Fox" refers to his sly and elusive nature rather than literal supernatural abilities.
The print is from a short series of ten prints, this being number six… each print showing a character from the play, set against the same gorgeous background of irises. which are themselves beautifully set off by an orange, contrasting background. The drawing is superb, the colouring is lush. Colour, composition and condition are all fine. The print is unbacked.
Publisher: Izutsuya Shōkichi
35cm x 25cm.
