Utagawa KUNISADA (1786-1864)
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The actor Nakamura Shikan IV as Asahina Tobei from a set: Rien kyokaku den, “The Story of a
Chivalrous Man in the Theatrical World.” Kabuki actors playing legendary chivalrous outlaws – otokodate. Shows Tobei having murdered his blind stepbrother in a thunderstorm. He was famous for his incredible strength and was supposedly the son of the great warrior Asahina Yoshihide. This and some other Kunisada sets around this date represent the ultimate in block cutting and precision keying with sophisticated printing techniques employing every embellishment: blind-printing, splashed pigment, burnishing, refined bokashi and mokume-zuri, while using the best quality pigments and paper. Published by Yorozucho Hiranoya (Akindo), 1863.Extremely fine de-luxe impression. (There is a later edition lacking all the refinements.) Very fine colour. Fine condition. Signed Nanajuhassai Toyokuni hitsu, “Seventy-eight-year-old Toyokuni drew.”
Chivalrous Man in the Theatrical World.” Kabuki actors playing legendary chivalrous outlaws – otokodate. Shows Tobei having murdered his blind stepbrother in a thunderstorm. He was famous for his incredible strength and was supposedly the son of the great warrior Asahina Yoshihide. This and some other Kunisada sets around this date represent the ultimate in block cutting and precision keying with sophisticated printing techniques employing every embellishment: blind-printing, splashed pigment, burnishing, refined bokashi and mokume-zuri, while using the best quality pigments and paper. Published by Yorozucho Hiranoya (Akindo), 1863.Extremely fine de-luxe impression. (There is a later edition lacking all the refinements.) Very fine colour. Fine condition. Signed Nanajuhassai Toyokuni hitsu, “Seventy-eight-year-old Toyokuni drew.”
Status: Sold