actors in roles as the ghosts of Kamata Matahachi and Kikuno, Utagawa Kunisada

Exhibition Label: "Nature/Natural," Feb-2011, Kris Ercums This print tells the story of two ghosts bound together by their untimely deaths at the hands of Igano Kanemitsu. Kikuno is the mistress of Kanemitsu’s older brother, and Kamada Matachi is Kikuno’s servant. Kanemitsu killed them both when they discovered him having an affair with his brother’s widow, a nun. In this print, the two ghosts face malevolently away from one another, their robes, hands and faces splashed with blood, as they seek revenge against Kanemitsu and his illicit lover. The mistress Kikuno chases the nun, and the servant Kamata Matachi chases his master. Archive Label 2003: In this print, the vengeful ghosts of Matahachi and Kikuno, rise to haunt those who caused their suffering. Iga no Kanemitsu, on far left and his deceased brother’s wife, in the right panel, were embroiled in an affair. Kikuno and her servant Matahachi discover them, so Kanemitsu has them killed.. He captures the dramatic instant of the ghosts’ appearance; The tension in the line of Kanemitsu’s body couples well with the high tension of the moment that the actors brought to the performance of the scene. Ichikawa Kodanji IV (1812-1866), identified by the crest on his shoulder, played several roles in the production depicted in the print, including both ghosts. He was very well respected in his day, becoming leader of his troupe, and was highly regarded for his mastery of quick-change techniques that plays such as the one in the print demanded. Archive Label date unknown: This print by Kunisada depicts ghosts returning to haunt the living. Igano Kanemitsu had an affair with his elder brother's widow, who had become a nun. The elder brother's mistress Kikuno and one of her servants found out about the affair, so Kanemitsu had both of them killed. To avenge their deaths and to end Kanemitsu's disreputable affair, they haunt the earthly lovers. In this play, the actor Ichikawa Kodanji IV (to the left with the crest on his sleeve) played six different roles, including those of both ghosts.