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'Chivalrous Commoners' series

Kunisada I (Toyokuni III), 1844, Wood cut
'Chivalrous Commoners' series
'Chivalrous Commoners' series
'Chivalrous Commoners' series
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Category
Library Item
Item no
337
Title
'Chivalrous Commoners' series ('Otokodate Honcho Tsunagoro')
Description
Actor portrait of Ichikawa Danjuro VIII in the role of Honcho Tsunagoro. Wardsmen (otokodate) were also known as 'chivalrous commoners' and in the popular imagination they were regarded as heroes who defended the ordinary townspeople against the abuses of corrupt samurai. Otokodate are usually shown with a flute (shakuhachi). This instrument was supposed to indicate that these men were culturally refined but in actuality the flute often was used as a truncheon to deliver beatings. 'The Chivalrous Spirits' series by Kunisada consists of five actor portraits. The patterns of each of the five prints are puns on the character's names. In this print, the background lines (tsuna) and the textile design of the thick ropes (tsuna) relate to Tsunagoro. The series of five prints subtly references the 'Karigane Five' otokodate of popular legend and Kabuki theatre.
Artist / maker
Kunisada I (Toyokuni III)
Date
1844
Size
38 x 26.5 cm.
Type
Location
Art and Design Library
Rights and purchasing
Option
Price
Digital FileElectronic file 72 dpi JPEG​
£6.10(inc. VAT 20%)
Digital FileElectronic File 300 dpi TIFF​
£31.00(inc. VAT 20%)
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