Triptych print, Utagawa Kuniyoshi, 1851 1st lunar month

Woodblock triptych print, oban tate-e. Scene from the kabuki play 'date kurabe' with the actors onoe kikujiro ii as the nurse masaoka (right) holding a lantern aloft, ichikawa danjuro viii in red stage makeup as otokonosuke teruhide (centre) with his foot on a giant rat, and ichikawa danjuro viii (playing two roles simultaneously) as nikki danjo (left) holding a scroll at his mouth whilst making magical a gesture. Date: 1851 1st lunar month. Dimensions: Height: 36.20 centimetres (c); ; Height: 36.20 centimetres (l); Height: 36.20 centimetres (r); Width: 24.70 centimetres (c); Width: 24.70 centimetres (l); Width: 24.80 centimetres (r). Medium: paper. Depicted People: Onoe Kikujiro II. Collection: British Museum. Triptych print (BM 2008,3037.19608 1)