Ichikawa Monnosuke II as Shimokōbe Shōji Yukihira and Segawa Yūjiro I as Matsukaze, Sister of Togashi no Saemon, in “Your Favorite Play: The Subscription List” (Gohiiki Kanjinchō)
c. 1773
Katsukawa Shunsho 勝川 春章 (Japanese, 1726-1792)
Japan
These paired prints may be the left and center sheets of a triptych showing a dance sequence within a Kabuki play performed at the Nakamura Theater in Edo (now Tokyo) in 1773. It tells the story of a young warrior out viewing maple leaves at the height of autumn. He meets a beautiful stranger who is really a mountain demon in disguise. The actor portraying her is holding up a demon (hannya) mask.
Color woodblock print; hosoban