Jukōdō Yoshikuni (寿好堂よし国) (artist )
Nakamura Utaemon III (中村歌右衛門) as Kumagai Jirō Naozane (熊谷次郎) from the series of Issei ichidai (一世一代) prints
03/1825
9.6 in x 14.4 in (Overall dimensions) Signed: Jukōdō Yoshikuni ga
寿好堂よし国画
Publisher: Honya Seishichi
(Marks 123 - seal closest to 25-527)
British Museum
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston - another print from this series with Utaemon III as Shunkan
Hankyu Culture Foundation
British Museum - Utaemon III as Osono from this same series
British Museum - Utaemon III as the drunken Gotobei from this same series
Tokyo Fuji Art Museum Issei ichidai (一世一代) is boldly printed above the horse's mane. It is an advertisement for the fact that this print is meant to represent Utaemon III's final performance as Kumagai Jiro Naozane. There are at least three other prints from this series with a similar inscription with Utaemon playing different roles.
Nakamura Utaemon III as the armored warrior Kumagai Jiro Naozane leading his high stepping black stallion in the play Ichinotani Futaba Gunki (一谷嫩軍記) performed at Kado theater 3/1825.
****
Illustrated:
1) in Ikeda Bunko, Kamigata yakusha-e shūsei (Collected Kamigata Actor Prints), vol. 1, Ikeda Bunko Library, Osaka 1997, no. 369.
2) in black and white in Ukiyo-e Masterpieces in European Collections: British Museum III, supervised by Muneshige Narazaki, Kodansha Ltd, 1988, #112, p. 193.
3) in a small color reproduction in Kabuki Heroes on the Osaka Stage 1780-1830 by C. Andrew Gerstle with Timothy Clark and Akiko Yano, #238, p. 255. "Utaemon III (Shikan)'s retirement performances at the Kado Theatre provided the opportunity for the actor to showcase, his best roles, and for artists to immortalize their hero who they presumed would no longer appear on the stage. But it was not uncommon for actors to announce 'retirement' from the stage late in their career and then to return in response to a chorus protest from their patrons and fans. This proved to be the case for Shikan, who in fact continued to act almost until his death in 1838. [That means he continued to act for 13 to 14 years after he announced his retirement. That is one long exit.] A miscellany, Setsuyō kikan, listed among various other fashions of the day in 1794 'actors who fake their retirements'."
Honya Seishichi (本屋清七) (publisher)
Nakamura Utaemon III (三代目中村歌右衛門) (actor)
actor prints (yakusha-e - 役者絵) (genre)
Kyōto-Osaka prints (kamigata-e - 上方絵) (genre)
warrior prints (musha-e - 武者絵) (genre)
Ichinotani Futaba Gunki (一の谷嫩軍記) (kabuki)
Kumagai Jirō Naozane (熊谷直実) (role)