Antique Print-JAPAN-UKIYO-E-ACTORS-MOUNTAIN-Sadahiro II-1865

in Japanese signed Sh?k?tei Sadahiro ga; no seal of artist nor publisher identified – This print showing Actors climbing a sacred mountain; Title: Shika no ry?an tengu no sekurabe translates roughly as “The sacred mountain on four sheets”. Left part of four sheets with one image. The profusely populated mountain (there are 65 actors depicted on the 4 sheets) offers an entertaining snapshot of the active roster in Kamigata kabuki during the mid-1860s. On this sheet we see the actors: Nakamura Sennosuke I, Ogino Senj? I, Arashi Daizabur? IV, Arashi Tomisabur? III, Ichikawa Suminoj? I, Ichikawa Fudenosuke I, Onoe Taminoj? I, Jitsukawa Yujir? III, Segawa Otome II, Nakamura Shijaku I, Kataoka Matsutar? I, and Arashi Sank? I. Sadahiro’s composition celebrates the Japanese fondness for comparisons and puns. The idea here is that all the actors are climbing a sacred mountain as a metaphor for working hard in their theatrical careers, pleasing their fans, and competing with other performers. Thus the tortuous and sometimes steep mountain paths serve as tangible representations for the pitfalls awaiting the actors in their climb to the top of their profession. The long text is full of clever expressions and witty word plays based on these conceits. No doubt, some of the commentaries, as well as selected attitudes and actions on the part of the figures, held meanings intelligible only to participants “in the know” within the Kamigata theatrical world during the waning years of the Edo period. This is a rare design known currently in only a handful of complete impressions,