This is a rare Hirosada Utagawa print from his zodiac-themed series ‘Selections for the Twelve Signs of the Zodiac’ (Mitate jûnishi). The series consists of twelve prints, one per zodiac animal. This print represents the dog. The play depicted is part of or relates to the 'Hakkenden' 八犬伝 (Eight Dog Warriors), brave warriors fathered by a dog. They come to the aid of their mother, Satomi Fuse Hime, to reclaim Awa province, which has fallen into enemy hands. The story of the Hakkenden was written by Kyokutei Bakin in 1814-1842 to compete with the great Chinese novel Water Margin. The faces of Hirosada’s actors are, as is typical for this Osaka-based printmaker, particularly expressive and finely rendered. Featured here are Nakamura Tomozô as Yûri Kinta, Nakamura Utaemon IV as Nukasuke (L), and Arashi Rikaku II as Shino (R) (ref. MFA Boston). This print is a rare oban-sized print (or double chuban). Osaka printmakers tended to produce smaller chuban prints. The print makes excellent use of embossing and bokashi techniques. The series is in the Boston MFA collection: https://collections.mfa.org/objects/460043 Condition: Good condition. Album backing with tape residue. Album fold, as to be expected. Your shipment: Between sturdy cardboard. Track and trace and additional coverage (if bidding price permits).