(1797 - 1861)
ACTOR BANDÔ SHÛKA I AS GAKU NO KOSAN IN THE YOSHIWARA, 1852
ACTOR BANDÔ SHÛKA I AS GAKU NO KOSAN IN THE YOSHIWARA
Colour woodblock print, 1852, from the series in vertical ôban format Famous Views of Edo Selected for the Twelve Months; Robinson 1981, S210/8. Published by Yahata-ya Sakujirô. Signed Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga, sealed with the red kirimon. Publisher mark. Censors’ seals: Hama, Magome. Date seal for the ninth month of the Rat year 1852. Blockcutter's mark: Hori Takichi.
Very good impression and colour. 349 x 243 mm.
This series shows bust portraits of kabuki actors in character against landscapes. Each print is associated with a different month. The cartouche in the right upper corner is bordered by objects from the play.
The son of a silk-dyer, at the age of fourteen Kuniyoshi joined the Utagawa school, then headed by Toyokuni I. Kuniyoshi achieved his commercial and artistic breakthrough in 1827 with the first designs of the series the 108 heroes of the Suikoden. This series, based on an old Chinese novel from the 14th century, was about rebels and bandits. The artist designed many other successful prints of warriors and heroes and was even nicknamed Warrior print Kuniyoshi, but in fact he contributed to every branch of Ukiyo-e: theatrical prints, legendary and historical subjects, women, landscapes, comics, surimono, fan-prints and book-illustrations.
