• Nakamura Utaemon III (中村歌右衛門) as Sukematsu no Kazue (助松かづえ) - center panel of a triptych based on the play <i>Five Chivalrous Women of the Yoshiwara</i> (<i>Otokodate iromo Yoshiwara</i> - 男作女吉原)
Nakamura Utaemon III (中村歌右衛門) as Sukematsu no Kazue (助松かづえ) - center panel of a triptych based on the play <i>Five Chivalrous Women of the Yoshiwara</i> (<i>Otokodate iromo Yoshiwara</i> - 男作女吉原)
Nakamura Utaemon III (中村歌右衛門) as Sukematsu no Kazue (助松かづえ) - center panel of a triptych based on the play <i>Five Chivalrous Women of the Yoshiwara</i> (<i>Otokodate iromo Yoshiwara</i> - 男作女吉原)
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Utagawa Kunisada (歌川国貞) / Toyokuni III (三代豊国) (artist 1786 – 01/12/1865)

Nakamura Utaemon III (中村歌右衛門) as Sukematsu no Kazue (助松かづえ) - center panel of a triptych based on the play Five Chivalrous Women of the Yoshiwara (Otokodate iromo Yoshiwara - 男作女吉原)

Print

07/1815
9.65 in x 14.57 in (Overall dimensions) Japanese color woodblock print
Signed: Gototei Kunisada ga
五渡亭国貞画
Publisher: Hiranoya Chōemon
(Marks 112 - seal 02-055)
Waseda University
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston - the full triptych
Google maps - Yoshiwara Shrine - one of the only signs of where this famous district was
Hankyu Culture Foundation
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston - the handbill advertising this performance The play that this performance comes from, the Otokodate iromo Yoshiwara, is an Edo version of the better known Natsu matsuri Naniwa kagami. This play opened in the 7/1815 at the Nakamura-za. The full triptych shows Bandō Mitsugorō III as Danshichi in the right-hand panel and Ichikawa Ichizō I as Kurobei on the left.

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This is the center panel of a triptych. In Sukematsu no Kazue's right hand Utaemon is holding a sandal* while staring at it intensely. In his left hand he is holding the handle of a closed umbrella which is resting on the shoulder of a figure - not shown here - who dominates the right hand panel of the triptych and who is about to strike with his upraised sword..

*Sandals are often used as props in kabuki plays and more often than not they indicate an element of a coming strike from a vendetta or a past act of revenge.

Clearly the sandal is not Utaemon's because he is wearing a pair of geta, standard footwear for many otokodate. Elsewhere Sukematsu Kazue is referred to as a physician.

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The actor's name and role appears in white reserve in the upper left of the sheet.
Danshichi Kurobei (団七九郎兵衛) (role)
actor prints (yakusha-e - 役者絵) (genre)
Hiranoya Chōemon (平野屋長右衛門) (publisher)
Nakamura Utaemon III (三代目中村歌右衛門) (actor)
Otokodate - chivalrous men (男伊達) (genre)