Gigadō Ashiyuki (戯画堂芦ゆき) (artist )
Onoe Kikugorō III (三代目尾上菊五郎) as Sakuramaru ( 桜 丸 ) on the right with Fujikawa Tomokichi II (二代目藤川友吉) as Sakuramaru’s wife nyōbō Yae (女房八重) in Sugawara denju tenarai kagami (Mirror of learning & transmitting Sugawara's secrets of calligraphy: 菅原伝授手習鑑)
03/1826
20.75 in x 15.5 in (Overall dimensions) Japanese woodblock print
Signature: Gigadō Ashiyuki ga
Publisher: Honsei (本清) Honya Seishichi (本屋清七)
Waseda University - left panel
Waseda University - right panel Performed at the Naka no Shibai, Osaka, 3/1826.
"This scene appears to be from Act I when Yae and her husband Sakuramaru secretly arrange a tryst for Prince Tokiyo, younger brother of the Emperor, and Lady Kariya, adopted daughter of Sugawara. The scene is staged along the bank of the Kamo River, where Sakuramaru and Yae have just persuaded Kariya to join the shy prince inside his carriage. Not long after, Kiyotsura (a retainer of Fujiwara no Shihei) and his men confront Sakuramaru regarding the prince's whereabouts. As they attempt to search the carriage, Sakuramaru fends them off and chases them away while the young lovers escape unnoticed. Yae returns with a water bucket (for the lovers' ablutions after lovemaking), dropping it when she learns of the couples' escape. Sugawara then runs off in the hope of finding the lovers before before their behavior brings disgrace upon both their families." (This passage is quoted directly from Osakaprints.com.)
This is the same impression of the diptych used for the cover (left sheet) and as exhibition catalog #99 in Kamigata ukiyo-e nihyakunen ten (Exhibition of 200 years of Kamigata ukiyo- e, 1975) by Matsudaira Susumu (Riccar Art Museum).
Honya Seishichi (本屋清七) (publisher)
Onoe Kikugorō III (三代目尾上菊五郎: 11/1815-3/1848) (actor)
Fujikawa Tomokichi II (二代目藤川友吉: from 1/1810 to 12/1812 and again from 11/1813 to 10/1815 and again from 11/1819 to 7/1833) (actor)