Natori Shunsen (1886-1960) | The actor Ichimura Uzaemon XV in the role of Iriya Naozamurai | Taisho period, early 20th century
Lot Closed
November 18, 02:59 PM GMT
Estimate
1,000 - 1,500 GBP
Lot Details
Description
Natori Shunsen (1886-1960)
The actor Ichimura Uzaemon XV in the role of Iriya Naozamurai
Taisho period, early 20th century
woodblock print, embellished with a silver mica over a black ground, from the series Collection of Portraits by Shunsen (Shunsen nigaoe shu), signed Shunsen hitsu (Brush of Shunsen), sealed Shunsen, and with artist's red oval approval seal Shunsen to lower right margin, publisher's mark Watanabe ko (Watanabe Shozaburo), circa 1925
Vertical oban: 39.5 x 27.2 cm., 15½ x 10¾ in.
Another byproduct of the publisher Watanabe Shozaburo’s (1885-1962) endeavors to revitalise the woodblock print tradition was the revival of the actor print (yakusha-e), an original genre of the ukiyo-e repertoire. Watanabe approached Shunsen to spearhead this, commissioning the artist to create a print based on an earlier painting he had executed of the actor Nakamura Ganjiro I (1878-1935). Watanabe's close collaboration with the artist is notable by way the seal used to mark his involvement with the project: Watanabe ko (crafted by Watanabe). Much in the vein of Toshusai Sharaku (active circa 1794-95), an ukiyo-e artist who designed radical prints for the Kabuki theatre, the actor Ichimura Uzaemon XV (1874-1945) is portrayed half bust before a silver mica ground, here scattered with snow.
For a similar impression in the collection of the Museum of Replica Handbags s, Boston, accession number 38.721, go to:
https://collections.mfa.org/objects/251355
For another impression in the collection of the Harvard Art Museums, object number 1978.416, go to: