Background
The Rokkasen were six celebrated poets of the ninth century who were first linked together in the poetic anthology Kokin wakashû (Collection of ancient and modern poems) in 905 AD. They were Ôtomo no Kuronushi, Ariwara no Narihira, Sôjô Henjô, Kisen Hôshi, Bunya no Yasuhide, and Ono no Komachi. They were the subject of numerous ukiyo-e prints of many types, among them dance dramas (sometimes with a single actor performing all the male roles and another as Komachi), as well as mitate-e (analogue pictures) in which the Rokkasen were associated with modern-day figures (frequently courtesans and dandies of the pleasure quarters).
Design
Masukuni's rare print is possibly another type of mitate-e, one in which actors are grouped together in roles for a performance that never took place. At least, this previously unrecorded design cannot be matched with a performance listed in the standard literature.
Masukuni was possibly a student of Sadamasu.
デラックス中伴 (25.5 x 18.0 cm)
非常に良い摺り。色彩極良。保存状態良。（裏打ちなし。金属摺り、空摺り[エンボッシュ]、艶摺り黒烏帽子と衣裳柄。僅少窪み、極小の顔料剥がれ、少シミ。）
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