Ashisada: Nocturnal fighting scene
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Ashisada (act. 1862)

A nocturnal fighting scene in the drama "Keisei Ama no Hagoromo" (The Courtesan and the Heavenly Feather Robe), performed at the Naka theatre in Osaka on the 8th month of 1862.
On the open veranda of the palace the Lord Hosokawa Katsumoto (in the centre, played by the actor Jitsukawa Ensaburô I) and Hosokawa Katsuie (Asao Daikichi, to the left) defend themselves against two attackers in black ninja-style dresses, while the courtesan Otome Daju (played by the Onnagata Fujikawa Tomokichi III) recedes in horror. The plums trees in the surrounding garden are in full blossom.

Title: Ama no Hagoromo (The Heavenly Feather Robe)

Signature: Ashisada ga

Publisher: n/a, Osaka

Date: 1862, 8th month

Size: Chûban triptych, 24.2 x 52.7 cm (overall sheet size)

Excellent deluxe impression, excellent colours, with relief printing, metal pigments and shomenzuri lustre printing. Retains margin on the left side. Sheets mounted together on old album backing. Bottom right corner a little bit creased, otherwise excellent condition.
Very rare Kamigata triptych. The artist's name is so far recorded only on this triptych.
Ill.: Lühl, Heroes Villains Courtesans, cat., Unna, n.d. (1987), pp. 110f, No 247 (only reference)

For another scene from the same, apparently very successful performance of the drama, see HERE on our website.

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