Utagawa Kunisada/Toyokuni III (1786-1865) Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido Road: Akasaka and Fujikawa: Actors Bandô Hikosaburô V as Hyosuke and Asao Yoroku II as Mizuemon, 1853. Oban.
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We are showing two prints from a fairly rare and unusual Kunisada series of the Tokaido Road. Kunisada’s very famous series of the same subject from the previous year had been wildly successful. Probably one of the most successful editions of woodblock prints of all time, Kunisada’s inspired and justly famous series of actors and the stations of the Tokaido Road marries two of the most popular genres of ukiyo-e into one theme. Each print, some issued as pairs, depicts a half length actor portrait set against a background of a Tokaido Station scene borrowed with impunity from Hiroshige’s landscape series of the 1830’s. In many cases, the landscape background almost transcribed line for line.
In all, Kunisada made three series in 1852 using the same successful formula. This in part was inspired by the need to conform to strict censorship of the time. This series dispenses with the backgrounds altogether. Instead the cartouches remain, sometimes elaborately decorated with accoutrements from the play depicted. In this case the play is Katakiuchi ukiki no Kameyama ("Grief for a gentle flower and revenge at Kameyama").
The play is one of a wildly popular genre where the action is based on an actual event involving the Ishii brothers in the Date clan's castle at Kameyama in 1701. The tale presents Ishikawa Hyosuke's vendetta against Akabori Mizuemon, a villain who tricked Hyosuke’s father into believing that his wife had been unfaithful, which ended in his murdering her. Hyosuke, his brother-in-law Genzo, and Genzo’s wife (Hyosuke’s sister Okano) exact revenge against Mizuemon at Kameyama Castle.
A great print from a rare series and from the finest period of woodblock printing. Deep, rich colours and striking design and block cutting. Only a very remote connection to the station of the Tokaido. A copy of this print is in the MFA Boston.
Publisher: Kiya Sōjirō.
36cm x 25cm.
