Kunisada: Danjuro IX as Shirafuji, with Ehon scene of Women looking at Ukiyo-e

Artist: Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865)Title: Kakuta Brigade, Extra (Bangai), Sekiya no sato: Actor Kawarazaki Gonjûrô I as Shirafuji 「関屋の里」「白ふじ　河原崎権十郎」（初代） Series: Edo no hana meisho-e 江戸廼花名勝会 (Flowers of Edo and Views of Famous Places) Date: 1863 Kawarazaki Gonjuro (Danjuro IX) is shown lower right; he wears the jaunty scarf of his character and a kimono with a pattern of stylized carp and waves. We see him  parting a noren curtain that hangs at the entrance to an establishment.  Ichikawa Danjuro IX held the name of Kawarasaki Gonjuro I from 1852 to 1869. Shirafuji Genta was a wrestler character in kabuki plays that were written about the lovers Oshun and Izutsuya Denbei.  At left is a landscape by Hiroshige II, and above is an interesting rendering of an ehon (woodblock-printed picture book) done in tones of grey. It shows a woman in festive attire looking through a sheaf of actor prints that seems to have been given to her as a gift. A second woman bows down in front of her. This uppe