Tatsuhime of Izu: Kabuki Wit and Ukiyo-e Mastery in a Single 1845 Print

One Series, Two Masters, Sixty Provinces

Dainippon Rokujuyo-shu no Uchi was one of the most ambitious collaborative projects in Ukiyo-e history — a grand series depicting legendary figures from all 60+ provinces of Japan. Led by the two titans of the era, Toyokuni III (Kunisada I) and Utagawa Kuniyoshi, alongside their students, it stands as a defining achievement of late Edo woodblock art.

Tatsuhime of Ito, Izu Province

This print portrays Tatsuhime, a historical heroine from Ito in Izu Province, rendered by Toyokuni III with his characteristic elegance. The landscape koma-e inset — a small framed scene in the background — was contributed by his talented pupil Utagawa Sadahide, adding depth and regional atmosphere to the composition.

The Masterstroke: A Chin in the Corner

Look closely and you'll find a small Chin — the beloved Edo-period lap dog — quietly placed in the interior scene. For Edo theater audiences, this was an unmistakable wink: a nod to the glamorous Kabuki entrance scenes featuring dogs, performed at venues like the Nakamura-za. Serious historical subject, playful theatrical wit. It is exactly this kind of layered storytelling that made Toyokuni III's work so beloved by Edo audiences.

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Available at Atelier UKIYO. A masterwork from the golden twilight of the Edo period — history, theater, and wit in a single extraordinary print.