A man in a crossed-patterned kimono swinging a large axe over his head.
Print from A Series of Three Prints, Sanbantsuzuki.
The title ‘A Series of Three Prints’ probably indicates that this print is part of a triptych.
The man is the kabuki actor Ichikawa Danjuro VII, known at the time as Ichikawa Ebizo V, probably in the role of the woodcutter Nekko no Yorizo in a play on the theme of Yamauba and Kintoki. This print probably depicts a performance of the play Yoriari gohiiki Tsuna, staged at the Kawarazaki Theatre in Edo in XI/1832. However, Kabuki nenpyo lists various roles for Ebizo, such as those of Ebisakonoju, in reality Watanabe Tsuna, and Ashikagayama Yamauba, but not that of Nekko no Yorizo.
Ichikawa Ebizo V (1791-1859), acted under this name from III/1832; he previously acted under the name Danjuro VII, from XI/1800.
One poem by Fukutokyo, from Kawagoe.
The poem reads:
Blown in the Spring breeze, the song of the warbler crosses the mountains and roams through the valleys.
Issued by the Shipporen
Signature reading: Gototei Kunisada ga, with Toshidama rings
