1964 After Sharaku "Actor Arashi Ryozo as Money Lender Kanekashi Ishibe Kinkichi ", Full-Color Print

Description

An excellent large full-color Ukiyo-E Hanga print after original woodblock print "Actor Arashi Ryozo in the Role of Money Lender … more An excellent large full-color Ukiyo-E Hanga print after original woodblock print "Actor Arashi Ryozo in the Role of Money Lender Kanekashi Ishibe Kinkichi" by Toshusai Sharaku. Comes from a rare Collection of 24 Masterpieces by Sharaku. Produced & published by Shuei-Sha, Tokyo, in September, 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 1 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 by Dr. Kiyoshi Shibui and Mr. Sadao Kikuchi (below) in Japanese and English is included.

Overall (folded) 12.50"W x 18.25"H
Overall (unfolded) 25"W x 18.25"H
Image 9.30"W x 13.70"H

Commentary by Ukiyo-e Art consultant & editor Dr. Kiyoshi Shibui and Mr. Sadao Kikuchi:
Signature: signed Toshusai Sharaku
Printers: Tsutaya Juzaburo (with a seal)
In the possession of Mr. Kiyoo Yamamoto

Ishibe Kinkichi the miser is well put across by the tightly pursed lips and the expressive left hand pushing up the sleeve on right arm. The figure is as revealing of the miserly man as his axiomatic name "Ishibe Kinkichi" (Stonewall Money Man). The pithy color scheme of his clothes - a brown ochre ground checkered with vermillion and blue for the outer garment and the black silk collar of the under garment tighten up the general effect. The solid, near-monotone of the color scheme well brings out the salient features of actor Arashi Ryuzo playing the part.

The portrait represents one of the dramatic persona in the play "Hana Ayame-Bunroku Saga" played on the stage of Miyako-Za theatre as its May billing in 1794 or the 6th year of Kansei. It is a vendetta story involving two brothers, Ishikawa Genzo and Ishii Hanzo who avenge their father's murder on one called Akasaka Mizunosuke at a Locale of Kameyama in 1701. This was adapted for the stage from a real event. The play is esteemed as the ultimate of the vendetta stories.

The play was starred in by Sakata Hangoro the 3rd for the 13th commemoration of his famous father Sakata Hangoro the Second. less