Posted by Guy Pepermans (91.176.15.124) on October 26, 2011 at 15:44:04:
In Reply to: Actors as goldfish posted by Alex on October 26, 2011 at 10:09:59:
I believe that the signature reads "ōju Chikanobu hitsu" (although I'm not sure about the 'hitsu' character.
The publisher is Yamaguchi Yoshi who worked on a regular base with Chikanobu; date Meiji 19, 5th month (5/1886).
Kuniyoshi depicted actors also as goldfish on two fan prints, ca 1843 (cfr. link to the Kuniyoshi Project below). Kabuki scholars could possibly identity the actor's faces.
This must be a very rare triptych.
Link:
http://www.kuniyoshiproject.com/Fan%20prints%20of%20humorous%20and%20miscellaneous%20subjects,%20part%20II.htm
Guy