Iwai Kumisaburo III, Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII et Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII

Utagawa Kuniyoshi (歌川 国芳), Iwai Kumisaburo III as Aburaya Osome (油屋お染, left), Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Honchô Tsunagorô (本町綱五郎, center), and Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII in the role of detchi (apprentice) Hisamatsu (てつち久松, right) performing in Kumite Mimasu Soga no Hatsuyume (綬三升曽我初夢), 1847, woodcut, oban size: 35 x 73 cm.

Kuniyoshi began his career in ukiyo-e as a student of Shunei. At the age of 14, he studied under Toyokuni I and became one of his best students. In 1814 he left Toyokuni's studio to pursue a career as an independent ukiyo-e artist. His beginnings were difficult, he also sold tatami mats to support himself. However, his career changed in 1827 with his drama series 108 Heroes of the Suikoden. From then on, the public was eager for his depictions of famous samurai and legendary heroes. In this composition, the engraver depicts Iwai Kumisaburo III as Aburaya Osome (油屋お染, left), Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Honchô Tsunagorô (本町綱五郎, center), and Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as detchi (apprentice) Hisamatsu (てつち久松, right) performing in Kumite Mimasu Soga no Hatsuyume (綬三升曽我初夢).