• Nakamura Utaemon III (中村歌右衛門) as the <i>yakko</i> Ippei (奴逸平)
Nakamura Utaemon III (中村歌右衛門) as the <i>yakko</i> Ippei (奴逸平)
Nakamura Utaemon III (中村歌右衛門) as the <i>yakko</i> Ippei (奴逸平)
Nakamura Utaemon III (中村歌右衛門) as the <i>yakko</i> Ippei (奴逸平)

Utagawa Toyokuni I (初代歌川豊国) (artist 1769 – 02/24/1825)

Nakamura Utaemon III (中村歌右衛門) as the yakko Ippei (奴逸平)

Print


09/24/1808
10 in x 14.7 in (Overall dimensions) Japanese woodblock print
Signed: Toyokuni ga
Publisher: Kawachiya Genshichi
(Marks 227 - seal 25-103)
Waseda University - the 1808 edition
Waseda University - the 1810 edition with a black wall This appears to be a single sheet print. An alternate play title is given as Koinyobo Somewake Tazuna. Another version was printed two years later with a black background and the actor and role names moved to the right edge.

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The presence of a demon mask

Demon masks appear in a number of prints in the Lyon Collection. Two of them show a figure dangling a demon mask by its cord from their teeth. One of these is by Toyokuni I, the one seen here, and the other is in a triptych by Kuniyoshi. Without knowing the exact nature of these scenes, we are at a loss to explain the reasons for their being there. (See the attached jpeg of details from these prints.)
actor prints (yakusha-e - 役者絵) (genre)
Kawachiya Genshichi (河内屋源七) (publisher)
Nakamura Utaemon III (三代目中村歌右衛門) (actor)