Kuniyoshi Utagawa (1797-1861) OUMU KOMACHI (PARROT KOMACHI PLAYED BY THE ACTOR ICHIKAWA DANJURO VIII), Series (Modern Seven Komachi) Imayo nana Komachi Woodblock, 1851, signed within the print image 36 x 25cm approximately, framed and glazed The aged Komachi receives the following poem of pity from the Emperor: 'Although above the clouds things do not change from how they were in the past, do you look back fondly on your time spent within the jewelled curtains'. However, by changing just one word of the Emperor’s poem, Komachi reveals that age has not impaired her wit: 'Although above the clouds things do not change from how they were in the past, I do indeed look back fondly on my time spent within the jewelled curtains'. This is from a series of prints depicting Kabuki actors in roles relating to the seven legends of Ono no Komachi, a beautiful ninth century poetess. These legends are taken from ‘Nanakomachi’ Noh plays which describe incidents in her life. The illustration for this legend often includes a parrot to represent the repetition of another's words.