Japanese Print "Untitled actor print" by Yamaguchi Shohei (山口艸平)
Artist:Yamaguchi Shohei (山口艸平)
Title:Untitled actor print
Date:1923
Details:More information...
Source:Japanese Art Open Database
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Description:
This fine study of an actor is illustrated in "The New Wave. 20th.c. Prints from the Robert O Mueller Collection". Plate 207. We have shown the entry from this book. Please read the text in the photos which gives details of the print and artist. Since the book was published it has been discovered that the series is "Dai Chikamatsu Zenshu" (The Great Collection of Works by Chikamatsu). Chikamatsu Monzaemon (1653-1724) is often referred to as the Shakespeare of Japan. He is known to have written 97 drama of which 74 are historical. Many Japanese would be very familiar with the plays. None of the prints in the series has titles, most just have the names of the block cutter and the printer in the bottom margin. It is probable that the prints were sold in folders which carried relevant text. The printing is superb, the line across the face is a single strand of hair! The print is in perfect condition, no damage, no repairs and no fading. The paper used on all this series is a deeper tone than usual. The prints are larger than the usual oban size at 17 7/8 x 11 1/2 ins. (45.5 x 29 cms). It was just a little too long for our scanner and the photo does not show 1/2 in of the top margin.
