Comment - Kabuki scene from a New Years screenplay 'Sekitori Nidai no Shobu Zuke' ('関取二代勝負付 / 関取二代勝負附') which was staged at the Kawarazaki Theatre (河原崎) in the first lunar month of 1839. The New Years Day performance shows a dramatic scene about two rival sumo wrestlers. Wrestler Akitsushima has suggested that if his opponent Onigatake purposely loses a match to him, he will give him the money he needs to finish ransoming a courtesan Keisei Ooyodo. from a teahouse for his supporter. This Kabuki play was rewritten several times and the names of the characters were changed, but the plot remained virtually identical.

On left, the famous wrestler Akitsushima grimaces angrily at his opponent, throwing his hands out at his sides as he eyes him suspiciously. His light blue outer robe features six different kites. The most prominent kite is a brown-grey-black tonbi tako or hawk kite on the left, and a red tonbi kite on the right of his outer robe. Above the brown-grey-black tonbi tako is a red edo kite with a white kanji character to be seen. Below the tonbi kite is another edo kite with black and white waves, and a central red symbol.The kite is easily recognizable by the protruding lower spars. Above the red tonbi kite is another edo kite to be seen. The kite features a central red circle with a white kanji and black and white waves, presumably a twin to the edo kite below the left brown-grey-black tonbi kite. Lower left to the red tonbi kite is a difficult to be detected edo kite with a white kanji character that has a subtle black outline. One of it's protruding kite spars is to be seen, and hints to that edo kite..

The robe of wrestler Akitsushima  (秋津嶋) is worn over a red tie-dyed kimono and a red apron trimmed with fringe. In the center, his opponent Onigatake (鬼ヶ嶽) glares back at him furiously, while the beauty Keisei Oyodo (傾城大淀) watches from behind the pillar of a torii gate, smiling slyly as she holds a roll of tissues to her chin. The scene takes place at a tea stand with shelves at top center holding cups and containers.

The actor at left is Sawamura Tossho-I (Sawamura totsushō-shodai, 沢村訥升-初代), and the actor in the center is Ichikawa Ebizo-V (Ichikawa Ebizō-go-daime, 市川海老蔵-五代目 aka Ichikawa Danjuro-VII (1791-1859). The actor Ichikawa Shōnojō (市川庄之丞) in the role of the alluring courtesan Keisei Ooyodo (傾城大淀) watches interestingly from behind the torii.

Series - ~


Artist - see Biography


Signature - "Gototei Kunisada-ga" ("五渡亭 国貞 画") on all three panels;


Publisher - Maruya Seijiro (丸屋清治郎), Jukakudo (寿鶴堂) printshop with its sei (清) seal (center and left panel
                 or MaruSei (丸清) seal (right panel); censor's seal (改印) kiwame (極) above the publisher's seals


Image Size - 36.2 X 73.0 cm (14 1/4" x 28 3/4")


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