Lot Essay
The role played by Tsuneyo has been identified by the scholar Suwa Haruo. In the Yakuwari banzauke (List of theatrical roles) in the Diet Library he found two roles listed for Tsuneyo: one as "Ippei's sister, Osan" in the play Koinyobo, and the other as "Shizuka Gozen" in Yoshitsune senbonzakura. Both plays were performed at the Kawarazaki Theater the fifth month of 1794. The actor's name and the incorrect date kinoe tora kugatsu (ninth month) are inscribed on this print in ink.
For other impressions see Asano Shugo, Suwa Haruo and Yamaguchi Keizaburo, Toshusai Sharaku: Gensundai zensakuhin (Complete works of Toshusai Sharaku reproduced in actual sizes) (Tokyo: Shogakukan, 2002), pl. 26; Yamaguchi Keizaburo, Sharaku, vol. 7 of Ukiyoe taikei (Compendium of ukiyo-e) (Tokyo: Shueisha, 1973), pl. 26; Suzuki Juzo, Sharaku, in Masterworks of Ukiyo-e, vol. 2 (Tokyo and Palo Alto, Ca.: Kodansha, 1968), pl. 27, p. 59: Harold G. Henderson and Louis V. Ledoux, The Surviving Works of Sharaku (New York: E. Weyhe, 1939), p. 95.
For other impressions see Asano Shugo, Suwa Haruo and Yamaguchi Keizaburo, Toshusai Sharaku: Gensundai zensakuhin (Complete works of Toshusai Sharaku reproduced in actual sizes) (Tokyo: Shogakukan, 2002), pl. 26; Yamaguchi Keizaburo, Sharaku, vol. 7 of Ukiyoe taikei (Compendium of ukiyo-e) (Tokyo: Shueisha, 1973), pl. 26; Suzuki Juzo, Sharaku, in Masterworks of Ukiyo-e, vol. 2 (Tokyo and Palo Alto, Ca.: Kodansha, 1968), pl. 27, p. 59: Harold G. Henderson and Louis V. Ledoux, The Surviving Works of Sharaku (New York: E. Weyhe, 1939), p. 95.