Kunichika - Mirror of Demonic People, Good and Evil - Hitomaru No Roku

Toyohara Kunichika

This print depicts the actor Iwai Shijaku (岩井紫若) playing the role of the female bandit Hitomaru no Oroku (人丸ノ於六). The woman is a character in the play “Fifty-three post stations along eastern Japan” (吾孺下五十三駅) and is depicted clutching a naginata (薙刀). In the background there is a bokashi (ぼかし) gradation, and we can see the silhouette of a castle.

The work is taken from the series “Mirror of Demonic People, Good and Evil” (善悪鬼人鏡) by the artist Toyohara Kunichika.

Date: 1868

Publisher: Tsunokuniya Isaburo (津國屋伊三郎) 

Condition: Very good color and impression, damage on right border as shown, backed.