Sawamura Sojuro II as Gentada Tsunekage and Sanogawa Ichimatsu I as Nureginu
Artist
Torii Kiyomitsu
(Japanese, 1735–1785)
Date1758
Mediumwoodblock print; ink and color on paper: benizuri-e (2-color; beni and green)
Dimensions29.3 x 13.8 cm (11 9/16 x 5 7/16 in.)
ClassificationsPrints
MarkingsPublisher: Square mark: hanmoto Sakaiya (the publisher Sakaiya)
Credit LineJohn Chandler Bancroft Collection
Terms
Object number1901.59.2125
Label TextThe print depicts a scene from Kaomise sajiki-ga-dake which began on the first of the eleventh month of 1758 as the kaomise production at Ichimura-za in Edo with a cast including Sawamura Sojuro II (1713-70) and Sanogawa Ichimatsu I (1722-62).In this play, Sanogawa Ichimatsu I performs the role of Nureginu, the wife of a high-ranking samurai, here seen dressed in an elegant uchikake overrobe and hair wrapped in a loop at the back, in a style called kata-hazushi. Sojuro's role is the villain Gentada Tsunekage and at one point, in order to defeat his plans Nureginu pretends to be in love with him. Kaomise plays were written fresh each year and so this particular play does not survive in the repertory today. According to the Yakusha nyobo hyobanki (Critique Book of Actors' Wives) published in 1760 "Sanogawa Ichimatsu's wife Otomi was once in in service in a samurai mansion and her name was Okin. When she ran to be with Ichimatsu she cut off her little fingers to show her love for him and so only had eight fingers. They have a son called Tetsugoro. She is extremely jealous and since Ichimatsu does not come home every night there are daily fights between them. She runs around with a razor threatening to kill herself. Double-check with Kabuki nenpyo for general accuracy.On View
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