The Snake WIllow (Ja yanagi): Actor Ichikawa Danjûrô IX as Suhama Sôzu, with an actor from the past as Kûkai, from the series The Eighteen Great Kabuki Plays (Kabuki jûhachiban)

「歌舞伎十八番　蛇柳」　「州浜僧都　九世市川団十郎」　「空海」

Torii Kiyosada (Japanese, 1844–1901)
Hasegawa Kanpei XIV (Tadakiyo) (Japanese, 1847–1929)
Publisher: Hasegawa Sumi (Japanese)
Blockcutter: Watanabe Yatarô (Hori Yata) (Japanese, 1850–1913)
Printer: Surikô Ôkame (Japanese)

Japanese

Meiji era

1895 (Meiji 28), October 5 OR 1896 (Meiji 29), January 12

Medium/Technique Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper

Dimensions Vertical ôban; 36.2 x 24 cm (14 1/4 x 9 7/16 in.)

Credit Line Anonymous Gift

Accession NumberRES.53.13

NOT ON VIEW

CollectionsAsia, Prints and Drawings

ClassificationsPrints

Catalogue Raisonné Waseda db 201-0140 (dated 1896), 201-0164 (1896), 201-0183 (1895)

DescriptionNo. 16 in the order given on the series contents page. The complete series, plus contents page: RES.53.1 to RES.53.19. (The series also included a title page, which is not in the MFA collection; see Waseda db 201-0123.) The date and publication information for each print was in the left margin, which has been cut off of these impressions. For this design, the Waseda impressions include two different dates.

Signed Torii Kiyosada ga; Tadakiyo hitsu
鳥居清貞画、忠清筆

Marks Blockcutter's mark: Horikô Yata
Printer's mark: Surikô Ôkame
Artists' seals: Kiyosada; ?
彫師：彫工弥太
摺師：摺工大亀

Provenance1953, anonymous gift to the MFA. (Accession date: March 12, 1953)