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Sawamura Sōjūrō III as Ōgishi Kurando. From his dress he is obviously a man of position and from his name it is conjectured that his prototype was the famous hero of the Chūshingura story, who in various versions has various similar names such as Ōgishi Kunai, Oishi Kuranosuke, etc.
The actor is dressed in a violet kimono, now somewhat faded, and is holding a pale green fan decorated with a white water design. The shaven part of the head is in very faded light blue.
The subject is one not often seen and only three impressions were found in America. No variations have been noted and we refer merely to reproductions in the usual places—Vignier-Inada Catalogue, number 278, Rumpf number 19, Kurth, Noguchi and Nakata. The one in Noguchi is in color.
Ōban. Dark mica ground. Signed: Tōshūsai Sharaku.
The Art Institute of Chicago (Buckingham Collection).
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