Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861) | The ghost of Asakura Togo haunting those who ordered his crucifixion | Edo period, 19th century
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December 14, 03:02 PM GMT
Estimate
1,000 - 1,500 GBP
Lot Details
Description
Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861)
The ghost of Asakura Togo haunting those who ordered his crucifixion
Edo period, 19th century
woodblock print, triptych, each sheet signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga, centre and right sheets with artist’s pauwlonia seal, censor’s seals Fukushima (Fukushima Saburoemon) and Muramatsu (Muramatsu Genroku), published by Yama-Kaku, 8th month 1851
Vertical oban triptych: each sheet 35.1 x 24.4 cm., 13¾ x 9⅝ in.
The scene depicting in this print is drawn from the kabuki play Higashima Sakura soshi (The Story of Sakura of Higashima), which was staged at the Nakamuraza theatre in Edo in August 1851. The print features the actor Iwai Kumesaburo III as the Secret Mistress (Myo) Katsuragi, the actor Ichikawa Kodanji IV as Koshimoto Sakuragi, actually the Ghost of Togo (R), Ichikawa Kodanji IV as the Ghost of Asakura Togo (C), Bando Hikosaburo IV as Orikoshi Tairyo, and Ichikawa Kodanji IV as the Tea Server (Chaya) Inma, actually the Ghost of Togo (L).
Asakura Togo is haunting those who ordered his execution by crucifixion.
For another example of the same print in the collection of The British Museum, museum number 2008,3037.19505, go to:
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/A_2008-3037-19505