Comment - Kabuki triptych depicting Onoe Kikugoro (V) ( 尾上菊五郎") as a Yakko ("yakko-dako", "奴凧") or man kite, and many of his fellow kabuki stars of his time, with their faces painted on Edo kites ("Edo-tako", "江戸凧"). Their names and main rôles are written near their faces. The Edo kite upper left panel bears a red crest, another Edo without actors picture, has white kanji characters on a lavender background (Kanji kite, "ji tako", "字凧"). A kite with five angles (coat-of-arms outline) , that may be a "Fukushima dako", a "Sumiyoshi dako" or "Sagara dako", decorated with black kanji characters, flies isolated without bridle and kite line. The fan kite ("Sensu tako", "扇子凧") on the right panel is decorated with a red Chrysantemum bud, giving the impression of the Japanese National flag. Two kite flyers on the lower left panel may be theater critics. The title is written on the right upper panel within the red cassette (not read).


Series - ~


Artist - see Biography


Signature - "painted by Kochoro Hosei" ("Kochoro Hosai ga" , "香 朝 楼 豊斎画") in the white cartouche, lower central panel with red artist's seal


Publisher - seal not read (cf. same seal)


Image Size - 74.0 x  37.0 cm (29 9/64" x 14 9/16")


Condition - triptych, three single panels; nishiki-e (cloured woodblock); Vertical ôban (ôban tate-e);