Title: Kabuki Actors’ Portraits

He Actor Osagawa Tsuneyo II

Story behind the original: The second generation Tsuneyo Kosagawa was the second most popular female figure at that time after Hanshiro Iwai the fourth and Kikunojo Segawa the third. It captures a sharp and calm expression beautifully, but I can't identify what role he is playing. In the 6th year of the Kansei era when this picture was produced, Tokoyo played Ippei's sister Otsune of "Koi Nobo Someri Tsuna" and Nakai Otsune, and Shizuka Gozen of "Yoshitsune Senbonzakura", but the dress depicted does not match any of the roles. The brush of Sharaku does not miss the thick eyebrows, the hollow eyes, the line of the strutched cheekbones, and the true face of the man hidden under the female role he plays. It is a picture in the Okue series with the background of mica-zuri, which is the most highly evaluated of Saraku works.

These are envelope type of woodblocks.

Please enlarge them and inspect them thoroughly enough for you to own this item.

Not been used but pre-owned.