Woodblock print made by Utagawa (Toyoshige) Toyokuni II (1777–1835) in late Edo period.
Utagawa Toyokuni II (歌川 豊重) was a student of Utagawa Toyokuni I.
This work comes from a diptych depicting kabuki actor Segawa Kikunojō (瀬川菊之丞) as Nuregami Chōgorō (濡髪長五郎), a sumo wrestler depicted in a play titled “Futatsu Chōchō Kuruwa Nikki“ (双蝶々曲輪日記) .
The play in nine acts was performed for the first time at the Takemotoza in Ôsaka in 1749.
This woodblock was published by Kawaguchiya Chōzō (川口屋長蔵) for the performance of “Futatsu Chōchō Kuruwa Nikki“ in 1830 with Kikunojō playing Chōgorō at the Nakamura theater.
Framed and glazed.
Frame size: 63.5cm x 53cm ≈ 25in x 20.8in
Artwork size: 36.5cm x 26cm ≈ 14.3in x 10.2in
Condition: very good.