Lot Essay
The actor Arashi Ryuzo was a top-ranked jitsuaku (actor of villain roles) shown here as the hard-hearted money lender in "The iris 'Soga' in the Bunroku era," a parody of the Soga brothers revenge plays.
For other impressions see Yamaguchi Keizaburo, Sharaku, vol. 7 of Ukiyo-e taikei (Tokyo Shueisha, 1973), pl. 6 (Worcester Art Museum, Massachusetts); Narazaki Muneshige and Yamaguchi Keizaburo, Daiei hakubutsukan/The British Museum...., vol. 11 of Ukiyo-e shuka (Tokyo: Shogakukan, 1979), pl. 3 (The British Museum, London); Narazaki Muneshige, ed., Gime bijutsukan I (Musée Guimet I), vol. 6 of Hizo ukiyo-e taikan/Ukiyo-e Masterpieces in European Collections (Tokyo: Kodansha, 1990), pl. 177; Yamaguchi Keizaburo, Sharaku no zembo (Tokyo: Tokyo Shoseki, 1994), pl. 8 (The Art Institute of Chicago).
Another impression was sold in these Rooms, Japanese Prints, Paintings, Illustrated Books and Drawings from the Collection of the late Theodor Scheiwe, Part II, 16 October, 1989, lot 46.
For other impressions see Yamaguchi Keizaburo, Sharaku, vol. 7 of Ukiyo-e taikei (Tokyo Shueisha, 1973), pl. 6 (Worcester Art Museum, Massachusetts); Narazaki Muneshige and Yamaguchi Keizaburo, Daiei hakubutsukan/The British Museum...., vol. 11 of Ukiyo-e shuka (Tokyo: Shogakukan, 1979), pl. 3 (The British Museum, London); Narazaki Muneshige, ed., Gime bijutsukan I (Musée Guimet I), vol. 6 of Hizo ukiyo-e taikan/Ukiyo-e Masterpieces in European Collections (Tokyo: Kodansha, 1990), pl. 177; Yamaguchi Keizaburo, Sharaku no zembo (Tokyo: Tokyo Shoseki, 1994), pl. 8 (The Art Institute of Chicago).
Another impression was sold in these Rooms, Japanese Prints, Paintings, Illustrated Books and Drawings from the Collection of the late Theodor Scheiwe, Part II, 16 October, 1989, lot 46.