Iwafuji publicly humiliates the virtuous lady-in-waiting Onoe by striking her with a sandal. The disgrace ultimately leads Onoe to take her own life, after which her loyal servant Ohatsu seeks revenge.
by Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III).This richly patterned kabuki actor print portrays Ichikawa Danjūrō VIII (1823–1854) in the female role of the villainous court lady Tsubone Iwafuji. Iwafuji raises a sandal above her head, an object central to one of the most famous episodes in the Kagamiyama theatrical tradition.Kunisada depicts Iwafuji in an extraordinarily elaborate costume of overlapping checks, hexagonal motifs and floral patterns. The actor's confrontational expression and raised sandal transform the otherwise decorative interior into a moment of impending violence.
CHB-16 ( Onoe Baikō IV as Chūrō Onoe) and
CHB-17 (Ichikawa Danjūrō VIII as Tsubone Iwafuji) belong together.
| Item No. | CHB-17 |
| Description | |
| Material | Japanese color woodblock print (nishiki-e), ink and color on paper |
| Origin | Japan |
| Circa | 1853 |
| Dimensions | 36 cm x 26 cm |
| Provenance | Bai Win Collection |
20,000NT$
- USD: 616US$
