Kiyotada - The Eighteen Great Kabuki Plays

Kiyotada Torii IV

This print is the eleventh in the Kabuki Jûhachiban (歌舞伎十八番, "The Eighteen Great Kabuki Plays") series of prints by the artist Kiyotada (also known as Tadakiyo). It depicts actor Ichikawa Danjûrô IX as Yamanoue Gennaizaemon (lower right), with an actor from the past as Suzuka no Ôjj (upper left), in the kabuki play Zôhiki (Pulling the Elephant). Zôhiki, also sometimes known as Zôbiki, was originally staged in 1701 at the Nakamura Theatre and starred Ichikawa Danjûrô I.

This series depicts roles from eighteen kabuki plays made famous by the Ichikawa Danjuro line of actors. Working under the artist's name of Tadakiyo, Kiyotada designed the Danjuro roles, and his father, Torii Kiyosada, drew the secondary figures.

Publisher: Hasegawa Sumi

Date: 1895

Condition: Very good color and condition. Print is backed and there's some minor tape residue. Elaborate embossing.

Size: 14 1/4" x 9 1/2"

Genre: Ukiyo-e - Yakusha-e

Medium: Woodblock Print