1964 After Kiyonaga "Ichikawa Yaozo and Two Beauties", Full-Color Print From Japan

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An excellent large full-color Ukiyo-E Hanga print after original woodblock print "Ichikawa Yaozo and Two Beauties" by Kiyonaga (1752-1815). Comes … Read more An excellent large full-color Ukiyo-E Hanga print after original woodblock print "Ichikawa Yaozo and Two Beauties" by Kiyonaga (1752-1815). Comes from a rare Collection of 24 Masterpieces by Kiyonaga. Produced & published by Shuei-Sha, Tokyo, in July 1964. Printers: Toppan Printing Co., LTD. Printed on one side. Attached at the top to a board of heavy textured paper, covered with lighter sheet of paper for protection, numbered 23 on the label on the front of the cover. Excellent condition - minor edge wear on the board, minor age wear on the cover, never framed, ready to be framed. Copy of the commentary (below) in Japanese and English is included.

Overall (folded) 12.55"W x 18.20"H
Overall (unfolded) 25"W x 18.20"H
Image 8.80"W x 12.95"H

Signature: signed KIYONAGA
Printers: Unidentified
In the possession of Mr. Magozaemon Kashiwabara

The time is summer. The man surrounded by a courtesan and geisha girls is none other than Ichikawa Yaozo III, the matinee idol of the contemporary Edo (former name of Tokyo). The fans no matter in what age they live, have the identical psychology, and any age has the same race of men worshipped by women. The fans want to get close to their idol off stage. Actors' genre pictures began to be popular from about Horeki era (1751-1763). KIYONAGA painted 11 different subjects of this kind. The courtesan standing at the right and actor Yaozo seated at the lower left, the rest of the figures form a cascading line, with the screen serving as the supporting pillar for the whole. The composition gives sense of stability. The Torii family were largely outshone as theatre artists by Katsukawa Shunsho and his followers. But KIYONAGA held the fort for his family as the adopted son of the 4th generation. He built his own style, after studying Katsukawa school without being greatly influenced by it. The crest of the dressing gown worn by the courtesan standing represents the family crest of her idol. See less