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YOSHITAKI, Utagawa (1841 - 1899)		Fighting samurais, scene of the kabuki play: Keisei Hana no Shiranami
		Signed:       Yoshitaki ga Date:           c. 1861 Size:            chûban diptych (c. 25 x 36.5 cms / c. 9 7/8" x 14 3/8") Condition: Excellent impression and color; album sheet, therefore joined and with remains of album backing; else in very good overall condition. ref. no.:  # 763302 Price:     € 440.00

A kabuki scene from the play, "Keisei Hana no Shiranami". Here, Kakimono Jusuke (right; played by ONOE TAMIZÔ II (1799-1886) is fighting against Yasuke (left; played by ICHIKAWA MOMOTARÔ (dates unknown) and three assailants at a riverside in the snow. The Osaka - Kyoto - Kobe area of Japan was called 'Kamigata' in the Edo period. The region had a much smaller population than the area around Edo (Toyko). The Ukiyo-e artists in Kamigata developed a unique style of their own, especially in the 'yakusha-e' (actor prints) style. The production numbers of these prints were much smaller and the quality of printing generally better than those of kabuki prints produced in Edo. Utagawa YOSHITAKI was a woodblock prints artist of the OSAKA SCHOOL, and a pupil of Yoshiume (1819-1879).

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