Natori Shunsen (1886-1960)
The actor Ichikawa Jukai III as Kimura Nagato no Kami (Ichikawa Jukai, Kimura Nagato no Kami), from the series New Versions of Figures on the Stage (Shinpan butai no sugata-e), 1952
Woodblock print
Signed: 'Shunsen'
Artist's red maple leaf seal
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo (round Watanabe seal above right shoulder)
Date: circa 1952
Signed: 'Shunsen'
Artist's red maple leaf seal
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo (round Watanabe seal above right shoulder)
Date: circa 1952
Vertical dai oban:
40.5 x 27.4 cm. (16 x 10 ¾ in.)
40.5 x 27.4 cm. (16 x 10 ¾ in.)
Very good impression, colour and overall condition. Two typical pinholes to left margin.
£ 1,200.00
Depicted here is the celebrated actor Ichikawa Jukai III (1886–1971) in the role of Kimura Nagato no Kami, widely regarded as one of his most accomplished performances. The scene is...
Depicted here is the celebrated actor Ichikawa Jukai III (1886–1971) in the role of Kimura Nagato no Kami, widely regarded as one of his most accomplished performances. The scene is drawn from Kiri Hitoha (A Paulownia Leaf), staged at the Kabukiza Theatre, Tokyo, in July 1951.
The play is the work of Tsubouchi Shoyo (1859–1935), a major figure in the modernisation of Kabuki and a scholar of extraordinary range — he translated the complete works of William Shakespeare into Japanese.