Author: Utagawa Hiroshige (歌川広重), aka Andō Hiroshige (広重安藤).
Signature: Hiroshige ga (広重画).
Subject: Sukenari dancing during the Fuji no makigari hunting event.
Series : The tale of the Sōga (Sōga monogatari zue, 曽我物語図会).
Number: 21/31.
Genre: musha-e (武者絵), monogatari-e (物語絵).
Size: large (ōban, 大判) 36cm x 24cm ( 14,17 x 9,44 inches).
Publisher: Ibaya Senzaburō (伊場屋仙三郎).
Period: c. 1843 ~ 1847.
Trimmed: yes
Backed: yes
Code: HSA01002
Condition: good condition. Colour is clear, clean with good saturation. Minor stain which does not
compromise the design.
Any remarkable wrinkle nor crease. Any evident damage nor fixing. It has been backed and slightly
trimmed.
This print belongs to a collection ispired by the Tale of the Sōga, an epic war tale (gunki monogatari / 軍記物語)
which tells the story of the Sōga brothers, Sukenari (祐成) and Tokimune (時致), and their attempt to killing Kudō
Suketsune (工藤 祐経) as an act of revenge for having murdered their biological father years before.
The matter happens during a sumptuos hunting event, the Fuji no Makigari (富士の巻狩り) organized by the Shōgun Minamoto
no Yoritomo (源 頼朝) in 1193.
Suketsune (holding a wide yellow fan in the print) is relaxing with few guests, sitting and enjoying a meal. The older of the
Sōga brother Sukenari is performing a dance for them, aiming to pleasure and entertain Suketsune before the attack.
The other guests are (from the right):
Tegoshi Shōshō (手越 少将): a courtesan from Tegoshiyado (手越宿) in Suruga (駿河), the modern Shizuoka (静岡). She was Suketsune's lover.
Ōtonai (大藤内): aka Ōmori Takamori (大森 隆盛), a Shintoist priest from the Kibitsuiko Shrine (Kibitsuiko jinja / 吉備津彦神社).
Kisegawa no Kamegiku (喜勢川の亀菊): a famous shirabyōshi dancer (白拍子) of the time.