34
Ichikawa Ebizō IV as Ranmyaku no Kichi.
Despite the fact that Ebizō took four different parts in the production now under consideration there is no dispute about the identification of this print; nor is there another known impression of it. We reproduce this and the following number as two sheets of a possible triptych, the left-hand part of which is unknown.
We have rephotographed from the Vignier-Inada Catalogue, number 327, as Rumpf did for his number 66 and as the Japanese have done for their books on Sharaku. The print now is in the Matsukata Collection. The coloring of the costume has not been described.
Hosoye. Yellow ground. Signed: Tōshūsai Sharaku.
35
Iwai Kiyotarō possibly as O-Toki, the wife of Saburobei.
We place the print here tentatively on the right of number 34.
What may be the only surviving impression was at one time in the Bullier Collection in Paris and has now been rephotographed from the beautiful color reproduction in the Vignier-Inada Catalogue number 313. It is also reproduced in Rumpf number 93, etc. The impression reproduced in the Catalogue of the Matsuki Zenyemon Collection which now is owned by Mr. Saito of Sendai may be the same print, as a large part of the Bullier Collection went to Japan, but we are not certain of the identity. The coloring in the Vignier-Inada reproduction shows the stripes of the outer robe alternately yellow with black and solid red. The obi is in three tones of green.
Hosoye. Yellow ground. Signed: Tōshūsai Sharaku.
130
