Posted by Paul Griffith (86.171.185.176) on January 04, 2011 at 03:27:32:
In Reply to: Re: Toyokuni 1 with no name! posted by Mikael on December 18, 2010 at 16:38:30:
This is certainly a portrait of the actor Sawamura Tossho I by Toyokuni II. Kabuki actors succeeded to several names in the course of their careers so it is important to ascertain exactly when this actor took the name 'Tossho', a name that is clearly printed on the design. In fact, he took this name in the 11th month of 1831 at the Kiri-za theatre in Edo. He only became Sojuro V in the 7th month of 1844. As the design shows the actor off-stage, it is impossible to give an exact date for the print. (In case you were interested, the design on his kimono is the crest of the Sawamura actor line.)