Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) (1786-1865)
Princess Wakana-hime holding an open handscroll; she is sitting on a giant spider, floating on a cloud over the sea. Swimming in the waves, the fisherman (ryôshi) Nadazô clasps the young Nanakusa Shirô Toshitada (七草四郎年正), who is carrying a skull in his mouth and a large bronze temple bell overhead.
From a small series of dramatical scenes that was published on the occasion of the kabuki stage première of the dramatized version of the popular novel „Shiranui Monogatari“.
Title: Shiranui monogatari - shohen no zumô (The Tale of Shiranui – first part)
Signature: Toyokuni ga
Publisher: Fujiokaya Keijirô (Fujikei, Shorindô)
Censors: Fuku, Muramatsu
Date: 5/1853
Size: Horizontal Oban, 26 x 35,9 cm (paper size)
Fine impression in excellent colours. Margins with only minor trimming, lower margin with fold; minimal soiling and small stains. Lower margin verso paper reinforced. Overall very good to excellent condition of this unusual and rare image.
Cf. MFA Boston, Inv. Nr. 2009.5007.21
sold