Shunkosai Hokushu (active 1810 - 1832) Actor Nakamura Shikan II as the Wakato, Hachiemon, 1825-1830. Oban.
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This is a very rare and collectible print by the Osaka artist, Shunkosai Hokushu. Hokushu is largely credited with establishing the Osaka style and developing an industry around printmaking in the city. He represents the earliest of the new wave of print artists at the start of the nineteenth century. It is said that he was a paper merchant and pupil of the print designer Shokosai Hanbei. He was the leading Osaka portraitist during the 1820’s and really developed the distinctive look of Osaka prints, producing the earliest of the chuban format portrait heads with their lush printing, metallic embellishments and deep embossing in a portrait of Kataoka Nizaemon VII as Matsunaga Daizen in 1816.
This striking oban portrait is of the actor Nakamura Shikan II as the Wakato, Hachiemon. The play from which it is derived, Meido no Hikyaku, concerns the terrible misfortunes to befall a young man, Kameya Chube, and his mistress Umegawa who has been sold into prostitution. Chube wishes to purchase her freedom but cannot afford it. His great friend, the low ranking samurai (wakato), Hachiemon has offered the 250 ryo to buy the girl for himself.
Despite other offers, Hachiemon hands over the money only to have Chube offer more. The money is not his though and the penalty for the theft is death. Nevertheless he goes ahead knowing that he only has a few days to spend with his lover. For him there is no escape except to commit suicide. He asks her to accompany him to heaven right then. But she says that she'd prefer to be his wife even for only three days before she dies.
This is a great, early Osaka portrait with very strong colours. The impression and condition are fine, fading to the red seal on the lower left. Two minor wormholes towards the edges.
24cm x 36cm.
