Toshusai Sharaku (act. 1794-95)
Toshusai Sharaku (act. 1794-95)

Arashi Ryuzo as the money lender Ishibe Kinkichi

Details
Toshusai Sharaku (act. 1794-95)
Arashi Ryuzo as the money lender Ishibe Kinkichi
An okubi-e (large-head portrait) of the actor in the play Hana ayame bunroku Soga, performed at the Miyako theater in the fifth month of Kansei 6 (1794), signed Toshusai Sharaku ga, published by Tsutaya Juzaburo, the actor's name inscribed in ink--very good impression, faded, toned and soiled, some restorations, slightly trimmed, backed
oban tate-e: 36.5 x 22.9cm.

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.

More from JAPANESE AND KOREAN ART

View All
View All