Kunisada (Gototei) kabuki triptych: a mitate gathering of two famous handsome rogues of the Edo - Japan - Edo Period (1600-1868)
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€ 68
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Selected by Giovanni Bottero
Holds a master’s in Japanese art history with over 10 years’ expertise in Asian art.
Estimate € 170 - € 280
 | €68 | |
|---|---|---|
 | €3 | |
 | €2 | |
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This original Edo-period Ōban triptych by Utagawa Kunisada depicts a mitate kabuki gathering of Shirai Gonpachi and Yari no Gonza, measures 36 × 73 cm and is in fair condition.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Artist: Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1865), later Toyokuni III
Title: Mitate kabuki scene with Shirai Gonpachi, Yari no Gonza and a princess role
Actors (named in the cartouches):
Right: Ichikawa Danjūrō (VIII) as Yari no Gonza (鑓の権三 市川團十郎)
Centre: Onoe Kiku… in a mitate role (見立 八重… 尾上菊…) [reading to be confirmed]
Left: Onoe Kikugorō (III) as Shirai Gonpachi (見立 白井権八 尾上菊五郎)
Date: Japan, c. 1832–42 (Tenpō era, late Edo period)
Publisher: Kawaguchiya Chōzō (川長)
Signature: Gototei Kunisada ga (五渡亭国貞画) on each sheet, with kiwame censor’s seal
Format: Ōban triptych, three sheets, each approx. 36 × 25 cm
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Condition: Good impression and well perserved colors across the sheets. There is some toning, soiling and binding holes repairs. The sheets remains firm. Please check the images carefully before bidding.
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About the print
The word mitate (見立) in the cartouches marks this as an imagined grouping. It is not a scene from one play. Instead it places famous stage characters from different dramas together, played by the star actors of the day. The two male roles share more than the “Gon” in their names. Both were celebrated as handsome young men whose good looks led them to ruin.
Shirai Gonpachi is based on the historical samurai Hirai Gonpachi, who became a robber and murderer and was executed in Edo in 1679. His love affair with the courtesan Komurasaki made the pair one of the favourite romantic couples of kabuki. Yari no Gonza, “Gonza the Spearman”, is the hero of Chikamatsu Monzaemon’s puppet play Yari no Gonza kasane katabira (1717). He was a handsome master of the spear who was falsely accused of adultery with his tea master’s wife and was killed by her husband.
Ichikawa Danjūrō VIII (1823–1854) was the idol of the Edo stage in the 1830s and 1840s and one of the most frequently portrayed actors of his time. The Gototei signature and the kiwame censor seals place the triptych before the Tenpō reforms of 1842, which banned actor prints for several years. That makes this an early work from Kunisada’s Gototei period, about two years before he took the name Toyokuni III.
Seller's Story
I've been collecting Japanese woodblock prints for quite a while now — everything from classic ukiyo-e to shin-hanga and sōsaku-hanga. What started as a personal passion eventually turned into something more, and these days I source prints from auctions, galleries, and private collections across Japan and Europe.
With growing worldwide interest in Japanese woodblock prints, gallery prices have been climbing steadily. My goal is simple: offer high-quality, authentic prints at reasonable prices. I'm picky about what I sell — I look for pieces that have been stored properly, kept flat, and are free from serious foxing, stains, or damage.
I'm based in Germany, which means EU buyers won't deal with any import duties or taxes. For US buyers, original artworks under HS code 9702 are duty-free as well. And wherever you are, I pack everything carefully with multiple layers of protection so your print arrives safely.
If you have questions about a piece, just reach out. You will get access to contact me once you've won an item from my lots.
Artist: Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1865), later Toyokuni III
Title: Mitate kabuki scene with Shirai Gonpachi, Yari no Gonza and a princess role
Actors (named in the cartouches):
Right: Ichikawa Danjūrō (VIII) as Yari no Gonza (鑓の権三 市川團十郎)
Centre: Onoe Kiku… in a mitate role (見立 八重… 尾上菊…) [reading to be confirmed]
Left: Onoe Kikugorō (III) as Shirai Gonpachi (見立 白井権八 尾上菊五郎)
Date: Japan, c. 1832–42 (Tenpō era, late Edo period)
Publisher: Kawaguchiya Chōzō (川長)
Signature: Gototei Kunisada ga (五渡亭国貞画) on each sheet, with kiwame censor’s seal
Format: Ōban triptych, three sheets, each approx. 36 × 25 cm
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Condition: Good impression and well perserved colors across the sheets. There is some toning, soiling and binding holes repairs. The sheets remains firm. Please check the images carefully before bidding.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
About the print
The word mitate (見立) in the cartouches marks this as an imagined grouping. It is not a scene from one play. Instead it places famous stage characters from different dramas together, played by the star actors of the day. The two male roles share more than the “Gon” in their names. Both were celebrated as handsome young men whose good looks led them to ruin.
Shirai Gonpachi is based on the historical samurai Hirai Gonpachi, who became a robber and murderer and was executed in Edo in 1679. His love affair with the courtesan Komurasaki made the pair one of the favourite romantic couples of kabuki. Yari no Gonza, “Gonza the Spearman”, is the hero of Chikamatsu Monzaemon’s puppet play Yari no Gonza kasane katabira (1717). He was a handsome master of the spear who was falsely accused of adultery with his tea master’s wife and was killed by her husband.
Ichikawa Danjūrō VIII (1823–1854) was the idol of the Edo stage in the 1830s and 1840s and one of the most frequently portrayed actors of his time. The Gototei signature and the kiwame censor seals place the triptych before the Tenpō reforms of 1842, which banned actor prints for several years. That makes this an early work from Kunisada’s Gototei period, about two years before he took the name Toyokuni III.
Seller's Story
I've been collecting Japanese woodblock prints for quite a while now — everything from classic ukiyo-e to shin-hanga and sōsaku-hanga. What started as a personal passion eventually turned into something more, and these days I source prints from auctions, galleries, and private collections across Japan and Europe.
With growing worldwide interest in Japanese woodblock prints, gallery prices have been climbing steadily. My goal is simple: offer high-quality, authentic prints at reasonable prices. I'm picky about what I sell — I look for pieces that have been stored properly, kept flat, and are free from serious foxing, stains, or damage.
I'm based in Germany, which means EU buyers won't deal with any import duties or taxes. For US buyers, original artworks under HS code 9702 are duty-free as well. And wherever you are, I pack everything carefully with multiple layers of protection so your print arrives safely.
If you have questions about a piece, just reach out. You will get access to contact me once you've won an item from my lots.
Details
Dynastic Style/Period
Edo Period (1600-1868)
Country of Origin
Japan
Attribution
Original
Height
36 cm
Width
73 cm
Title of artwork
Kunisada (Gototei) kabuki triptych: a mitate gathering of two famous handsome rogues of the Edo
Condition
Fair condition
Provenance
Private collection
Authenticity
Original/official
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