This is a fairly large (maybe 3’x1′?) print that my Dad received as a gift around 1954. He was stationed near Sendai at the end of the Korean War, and was good friends with a family that gave him this print and 2 scrolls when he left Japan. This print has been framed and under glass as long as I can remember, and I’m a bit hesitant to remove it, but I can if that will provide more info about the print. He’s very interested to find out anything possible about the artist, characters etc.. Thanks!
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The artist is Kunisada, who signs the work "Toyokuni ga."
Depicted are the three actors (from left): Iwai Kumesaburō III, Bandō Hikosaburō V, and Kawarazaki Gonjūrō I.
The title of the triptych is "Three Interesting Jokes of Spring" (Haru-yo yatsushi sankyo; 春世界☆三奥).
The date is 1/1857; the publisher is the unidentified "Iseyoshi."
Thank you! I appreciate the information. If the date is 1857, obviously he has a reproduction, which makes sense. He thought it might be valuable and has been keeping it in the dark. He can just hang it and enjoy it.
Thanks again for the help.
It is certainly an original color woodblock print from his time. Even though its monetary value isn't particularly high, it was a wonderful gift.
Ah - that's wonderful, thank you! Yes, it's a beautiful work and brings him a lot of joy.
For what it's worth, the ukiyo-e database at Waseda University (which hold three impressions of this design) gives the title as 春世界足而三奥 in two cases and 春世界足而三興 in the other.
https://archive.waseda.jp/archive/subDB-search.html?arg={%22item_per_page%22:20,%22sortby%22:[%22%22,%22ASC%22],%22view%22:%22display-simple%22,%22pagination%22:{%22page%22:1},%22sort_by%22:[%221179a%22,%22ASC%22],%22advanced_search%22:true,%22subDB_id%22:%2252%22,%22search_key%22:%22%22,%22variable_parts%22:[{%22name%22:%221180%22,%22value%22:%22006-0170%22}]}&lang=en
They don't furnish a reading in any case.
-A
Thanks very much for the link- really interesting to see each panel in full color. And since Dad directed a choir in Sendai, it makes sense that a singer gave him a print related to the performing arts. This is great to know, and made his day. Thank you!