1964 After Sharaku "Actor Ichikawa-Komazo as Shinozuka-Goro-Sadatsuna", Full-Color Print From Japan

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An excellent narrow full-color Ukiyo-E Hanga print after original woodblock print "Actor Ichikawa-Komazo as Shinozuka-Goro-Sadatsuna" by Toshusai Sharaku. Comes from … Read more An excellent narrow full-color Ukiyo-E Hanga print after original woodblock print "Actor Ichikawa-Komazo as Shinozuka-Goro-Sadatsuna" 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 22 on the label on the front of the cover. Excellent condition - minor edge wear on the board, 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 5.40"W x 12.30"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. F. G. Roach, Tokyo

This was taken from an all-star play called "Woman as Loyal and Enduring as Pine Tree" billed for Kawarazaki-Za in November 1794. A narrow sheet print, this seems to belong to the transitional period between the 2nd and the 3rd production periods from the way SHARAKU signs himself. Six prints are signed simply SHARAKU, other 6 - Toshusai SHARAKU. The costume is in the style of the play "Shibaraku", the classic of the classical form and beauty. The long trained robe of the courtier which tends to take space side ways is well contained in the narrow space. The unsheathed big sword animates the entire picture. The color scheme is classical with the persimmon (salmon) colored robe, figured with green cranes on white for dress, and pink for undergarment. This coloration is calculated for the accumulated effect of the tiers of colored garments when they are thrown back off the bust as the hero Shibaraku bares his chest for one of his posturings. This picture bespeaks of SHARAKU's compositional power still going strong despite talks of his decline. See less